Associations among High-Quality Protein and Energy Intake, Serum Transthyretin, Serum Amino Acids and Linear Growth of Children in Ethiopia
Open Access
- 16 November 2018
- Vol. 10 (11), 1776
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111776
Abstract
Limited evidence is available on the associations of high-quality protein and energy intake, serum transthyretin (TTR), serum amino acids and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with linear growth of young children. Data collected during the baseline of a randomized control trial involving rural Ethiopian children aged 6–35 months (n = 873) were analyzed to evaluate the associations among height/length-for-age z-scores, dietary intakes, and these biomarkers (i.e., serum level of TTR, IGF-1, tryptophan and lysine, and inflammation). The prevalence of stunting was higher for children >23 months (38%) than ≤23 months (25%). The prevalence of inflammation was 35% and of intestinal parasites 48%. Three-quarters of the children were energy deficient, and stunted children had lower daily energy intake that non-stunted children (p < 0.05). Intakes of tryptophan, protein, and energy, and serum levels of tryptophan and IGF-1 were positively correlated with the linear growth of children. Controlling for inflammation, intestinal parasites, and sociodemographic characteristics, daily tryptophan (b = 0.01, p = 0.001), protein (b = 0.01, p = 0.01) and energy (b = 0.0003, p = 0.04) intakes and serum TTR (b = 2.58, p = 0.04) and IGF-1 (b = 0.01, p = 0.003) were positively associated with linear growth of children. Linear growth failure in Ethiopian children is likely associated with low quality protein intake and inadequate energy intake. Nutrition programs that emphasize improved protein quantity and quality and energy intake may enhance the linear growth of young children and need to be further investigated in longitudinal and interventional studies.Keywords
This publication has 54 references indexed in Scilit:
- Assessment of protein adequacy in developing countries: quality mattersBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2012
- Dietary protein quality and malnutrition in AfricaBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2012
- mTOR Signaling in Growth Control and DiseaseCell, 2012
- Quality Protein Maize for Africa: Closing the Protein Inadequacy Gap in Vulnerable PopulationsAdvances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 2011
- Energy intake misreporting among children and adolescents: a literature reviewMaternal & Child Nutrition, 2010
- A comparison of weighed and recalled intakes for schoolchildren and mothers in rural KenyaPublic Health Nutrition, 2009
- Systematic review of the efficacy and effectiveness of complementary feeding interventions in developing countriesMaternal & Child Nutrition, 2008
- Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capitalThe Lancet, 2008
- Complementary feedingJornal de Pediatria, 2000
- Energy and protein intakes as determinants of nitrogen balanceKidney International, 1978