Abstract
Background
Nutrient deficiencies limit the growth and turnover of intestinal mucosa, but studies assessing whether specific nutrients protect against or improve environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) are scarce. We aimed to investigate associations between nutrient intake and EED assessed by lactulose:mannitol (L:M) ratio, anti-1-antitrypsin, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and neopterin (NEO) among children 9–24 months in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
Methods
Among 231 included children, nutrient intake was assessed monthly by 24 h recalls, and 3-month usual intake was estimated using Multiple Source Method. Associations between nutrient intake and L:M ratio (measured at 15 months) were assessed using multiple linear regression, while associations between nutrient intake and fecal markers (measured quarterly) were assessed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models.
Results
We found that associations between nutrient intake from complementary food and L:M ratio, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), MPO and NEO were generally negative but weak. The only significant associations between nutrient intake (potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, folate, and vitamin C) and markers for intestinal inflammation were found for MPO.
Conclusion
Negative but weak associations between nutrient intake and markers of intestinal inflammation were found. Significant associations between several nutrients and MPO might merit further investigation.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the staff, children, and caregivers of the MAL-ED Bhaktapur site for their contributions. This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (grant number OPP47075); the Foundation for the NIH and the National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center.
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Morseth, M.S., Strand, T.A., Torheim, L.E. et al. Nutrient intake and environmental enteric dysfunction among Nepalese children 9–24 months old—the MAL-ED birth cohort study. Pediatr Res 84, 509–515 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-018-0108-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-018-0108-7
