Enteric dysfunction and other factors associated with attained size at 5 years: MAL-ED birth cohort study findings

Stephanie A. Richard, Benjamin J.J. Mccormick, Laura E. Murray-Kolb, Gwyneth O. Lee, Jessica C. Seidman, Mustafa Mahfuz, Tahmeed Ahmed, Richard L. Guerrant, William A. Petri, Elizabeth T. Rogawski, Eric Houpt, Gagandeep Kang, Estomih Mduma, Margaret N. Kosek, Aldo A.M. Lima, Sanjaya K. Shrestha, Ram K. Chandyo, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Pascal Bessong, Laura E. Caulfield*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Poor growth in early childhood has been associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity, as well as long-term deficits in cognitive development and economic productivity. Objectives: Data from the MAL-ED cohort study were used to identify factors in the first 2 y of life that are associated with heightfor- age, weight-for-age, and body mass index z-scores (HAZ, WAZ, BMIZ) at 5 y of age. Methods: A total of 1017 children were followed from near birth until 5 y of age at sites in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, and Tanzania. Data were collected on their growth, environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), micronutrient status, enteric pathogen burden, illness prevalence, dietary intake, and various other socio-economic and environmental factors. Results: EED biomarkers were related to size at 5 y. Mean lactulose:mannitol z-scores during the first 2 y of life were negatively associated with all of the growth measures (HAZ: -0.11 [95% CI: -0.19,-0.03];WAZ:-0.16 [95% CI:-0.26,-0.06]; BMIZ:-0.11 [95% CI: -0.23, 0.0]). Myeloperoxidase was negatively associated with weight (WAZ: -0.52 [95% CI: -0.78, -0.26] and BMIZ: -0.56 [95% CI: -0.86, -0.26]); whereas a-1-antitrypsin had a negative association with HAZ (-0.28 [95% CI: -0.52, -0.04]). Transferrin receptor was positively related to HAZ (0.18 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.30]) and WAZ (0.21 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.35]). Hemoglobin was positively related to HAZ (0.06 [95% CI: 0.00, 0.12]), and ferritin was negatively related to HAZ (-0.08 [95% CI: -0.12, -0.04]). Bacterial density in stool was negatively associated with HAZ (-0.04 [95% CI: -0.08, 0.00]), but illness symptoms did not have any effect on size at 5 y. Conclusions: EED markers, bacterial density, and iron markers are associated with growth at 5 y of age. Interventions to reduce bacterial burden and EED may improve long-term growth in low-income settings.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbernqz004
Pages (from-to)131-138
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume110
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Enteric dysfunction
  • Growth
  • Inflammation
  • Iron
  • Permeability

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