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Lu Z, Ahmadiankalati M, Tan Z. Joint clustering multiple longitudinal features: A comparison of methods and software packages with practical guidance. Stat Med 2023; 42:5513-5540. [PMID: 37789706 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Clustering longitudinal features is a common goal in medical studies to identify distinct disease developmental trajectories. Compared to clustering a single longitudinal feature, integrating multiple longitudinal features allows additional information to be incorporated into the clustering process, which may reveal co-existing longitudinal patterns and generate deeper biological insight. Despite its increasing importance and popularity, there is limited practical guidance for implementing cluster analysis approaches for multiple longitudinal features and evaluating their comparative performance in medical datasets. In this paper, we provide an overview of several commonly used approaches to clustering multiple longitudinal features, with an emphasis on application and implementation through R software. These methods can be broadly categorized into two categories, namely model-based (including frequentist and Bayesian) approaches and algorithm-based approaches. To evaluate their performance, we compare these approaches using real-life and simulated datasets. These results provide practical guidance to applied researchers who are interested in applying these approaches for clustering multiple longitudinal features. Recommendations for applied researchers and suggestions for future research in this area are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihang Lu
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Zhiwen Tan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Massara P, Asrar A, Bourdon C, Ngari M, Keown-Stoneman CDG, Maguire JL, Birken CS, Berkley JA, Bandsma RHJ, Comelli EM. New approaches and technical considerations in detecting outlier measurements and trajectories in longitudinal children growth data. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:232. [PMID: 37833647 PMCID: PMC10576311 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-02045-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growth studies rely on longitudinal measurements, typically represented as trajectories. However, anthropometry is prone to errors that can generate outliers. While various methods are available for detecting outlier measurements, a gold standard has yet to be identified, and there is no established method for outlying trajectories. Thus, outlier types and their effects on growth pattern detection still need to be investigated. This work aimed to assess the performance of six methods at detecting different types of outliers, propose two novel methods for outlier trajectory detection and evaluate how outliers affect growth pattern detection. METHODS We included 393 healthy infants from The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGet Kids!) cohort and 1651 children with severe malnutrition from the co-trimoxazole prophylaxis clinical trial. We injected outliers of three types and six intensities and applied four outlier detection methods for measurements (model-based and World Health Organization cut-offs-based) and two for trajectories. We also assessed growth pattern detection before and after outlier injection using time series clustering and latent class mixed models. Error type, intensity, and population affected method performance. RESULTS Model-based outlier detection methods performed best for measurements with precision between 5.72-99.89%, especially for low and moderate error intensities. The clustering-based outlier trajectory method had high precision of 14.93-99.12%. Combining methods improved the detection rate to 21.82% in outlier measurements. Finally, when comparing growth groups with and without outliers, the outliers were shown to alter group membership by 57.9 -79.04%. CONCLUSIONS World Health Organization cut-off-based techniques were shown to perform well in few very particular cases (extreme errors of high intensity), while model-based techniques performed well, especially for moderate errors of low intensity. Clustering-based outlier trajectory detection performed exceptionally well across all types and intensities of errors, indicating a potential strategic change in how outliers in growth data are viewed. Finally, the importance of detecting outliers was shown, given its impact on children growth studies, as demonstrated by comparing results of growth group detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Massara
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Arooj Asrar
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Celine Bourdon
- Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Moses Ngari
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/ Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Charles D G Keown-Stoneman
- Li KaShing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jonathon L Maguire
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Li KaShing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Catherine S Birken
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Services, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - James A Berkley
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)/ Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert H J Bandsma
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
- Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Elena M Comelli
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Center for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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van Biljon N, Lake MT, Goddard L, Botha M, Zar HJ, Little F. Latent Classes of Anthropometric Growth in Early Childhood Using Uni- and Multivariate approaches in a South African Birth Cohort. medRxiv 2023:2023.09.01.23294932. [PMID: 37693390 PMCID: PMC10491380 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.01.23294932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Conventional methods for modelling longitudinal growth data focus on the analysis of mean longitudinal trends or the identification of abnormal growth based on cross-sectional standardized z-scores. Latent Class Mixed Modelling (LCMM) considers the underlying heterogeneity in growth profiles and allows for the identification of groups of subjects that follow similar longitudinal trends. Methods LCMM was used to identify underlying latent profiles of growth for univariate responses of standardized height, standardized weight, standardized body mass index and standardized weight-for-length/height measurements and multivariate response of joint standardized height and standardized weight measurements from birth to five years for a sample of 1143 children from a South African birth cohort, the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS). Allocations across latent growth classes were compared to better understand the differences and similarities across the classes identified given different composite measures of height and weight as input. Results Four classes of growth within standardized height (n1=516, n2=112, n3=187, n4=321) and standardized weight (n1=263, n2=150, n3=584, n4=142), three latent growth classes within Body Mass Index (BMI) (n1=481, n2=485, n3=149) and Weight for length/height (WFH) (n1=321, n2=710, n3=84) and five latent growth classes within the multivariate response of standardized height and standardized weight (n1=318, n2=205, n3=75, n4=296, n5=242) were identified, each with distinct trajectories over childhood. A strong association was found between various growth classes and abnormal growth features such as rapid weight gain, stunting, underweight and overweight. Conclusions With the identification of these classes, a better understanding of distinct childhood growth trajectories and their predictors may be gained, informing interventions to promote optimal childhood growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marilyn T Lake
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and SA-MRC unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, SA
| | - Liz Goddard
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and SA-MRC unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, SA
| | - Maresa Botha
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and SA-MRC unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, SA
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and SA-MRC unit on Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, SA
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Massara P, Lopez-Dominguez L, Bourdon C, Bassani DG, Keown-Stoneman CDG, Birken CS, Maguire JL, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, Bandsma RHJ, Comelli EM. A novel systematic pipeline for increased predictability and explainability of growth patterns in children using trajectory features. Int J Med Inform 2023; 177:105143. [PMID: 37473656 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Longitudinal patterns of growth in early childhood are associated with health conditions throughout life. Knowledge of such patterns and the ability to predict them can lead to better prevention and improved health promotion in adulthood. However, growth analyses are characterized by significant variability, and pattern detection is affected by the method applied. Moreover, pattern labelling is typically performed based on ad hoc methods, such as visualizations or clinical experience. Here, we propose a novel pipeline using features extracted from growth trajectories using mathematical, statistical and machine-learning approaches to predict growth patterns and label them in a systematic and unequivocal manner. METHODS We extracted mathematical and clinical features from 9577 children growth trajectories embedded with machine-learning predictions of the growth patterns. We experimented with two sets of features (CAnonical Time-series Characteristics and trajectory features specific to growth), developmental periods and six machine-learning classifiers. Clinical experts provided labels for the detected patterns and decision rules were created to associate the features with the labelled patterns. The predictive capacity of the extracted features was validated on two heterogenous populations (The Applied Research Group for Kids and the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort, based in Canada and Brazil, respectively). RESULTS Features predictive ability measured by accuracy and F1 score was ≥ 80% and ≥ 0.76 respectively in both cohorts. A small number of features (n = 74) was sufficient to distinguish between growth patterns in both cohorts. Slope, intercept of the trajectory, age at peak value, start value and change of the growth measure were among the top identified features. CONCLUSION Growth features can be reliably used as predictors of growth patterns and provide an unbiased understanding of growth patterns. They can be used as tool to reduce the effort to repeat analysis and variability concerning anthropometric measures, time points and analytical methods, in the context of the same or similar populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Massara
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada.
| | - Lorena Lopez-Dominguez
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada; Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Celine Bourdon
- Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Diego G Bassani
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Center for Global Child Health & Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Charles D G Keown-Stoneman
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Applied Health Research Center, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Catherine S Birken
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jonathon L Maguire
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto,Toronto, Canada; Pediatric Outcomes Research Team, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Iná S Santos
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Departmento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Robert H J Bandsma
- Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Elena M Comelli
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada; Joannah and Brian Lawson Center for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Xie J, Han Y, Peng L, Zhang J, Gong X, Du Y, Ren X, Zhou L, Li Y, Zeng P, Shao J. BMI growth trajectory from birth to 5 years and its sex-specific association with prepregnant BMI and gestational weight gain. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1101158. [PMID: 36866049 PMCID: PMC9971005 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1101158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of the study was to identify the latent body mass index (BMI) z-score trajectories of children from birth to 5 years of age and evaluate their sex-specific association with prepregnant BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG). Methods This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study performed in China. In total, three distinct BMI-z trajectories from birth to 5 years of age were determined for both genders using the latent class growth modeling. The logistic regression model was used to assess the associations of maternal prepregnant BMI and GWG with childhood BMI-z growth trajectories. Results Excessive GWG increased the risks of children falling into high-BMI-z trajectory relative to adequate GWG (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.20) in boys; girls born to mothers with prepregnancy underweight had a higher risk of low-BMI-z trajectory than girls born to mothers with prepregnancy adequate weight (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.79). Conclusion BMI-z growth trajectories of children from 0 to 5 years of age have population heterogeneity. Prepregnant BMI and GWG are associated with child BMI-z trajectories. It is necessary to monitor weight status before and during pregnancy to promote maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinting Xie
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Han
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Peng
- Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Family Planning Service Center, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangjun Gong
- Xuzhou Maternal and Child Health Family Planning Service Center, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Du
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangmei Ren
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Zhou
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanhong Li
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Zeng
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jihong Shao
- School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Jihong Shao,
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López-Domínguez L, Bassani DG, Bourdon C, Massara P, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, Barros AJD, Comelli EM, Bandsma RHJ. A novel shape-based approach to identify gestational age-adjusted growth patterns from birth to 11 years of age. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1709. [PMID: 36720954 PMCID: PMC9889302 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28485-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Child growth patterns assessment is critical to design public health interventions. However, current analytical approaches may overlook population heterogeneity. To overcome this limitation, we developed a growth trajectories clustering pipeline that incorporates a shape-respecting distance, baseline centering (i.e., birth-size normalized trajectories) and Gestational Age (GA)-correction to characterize shape-based child growth patterns. We used data from 3945 children (461 preterm) in the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort with at least 3 measurements between birth (included) and 11 years of age. Sex-adjusted weight-, length/height- and body mass index-for-age z-scores were derived at birth, 3 months, and at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 11 years of age (INTERGROWTH-21st and WHO growth standards). Growth trajectories clustering was conducted for each anthropometric index using k-means and a shape-respecting distance, accounting or not for birth size and/or GA-correction. We identified 3 trajectory patterns for each anthropometric index: increasing (High), stable (Middle) and decreasing (Low). Baseline centering resulted in pattern classification that considered early life growth traits. GA-correction increased the intercepts of preterm-born children trajectories, impacting their pattern classification. Incorporating shape-based clustering, baseline centering and GA-correction in growth patterns analysis improves the identification of subgroups meaningful for public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena López-Domínguez
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Diego G Bassani
- Department of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Global Child Health, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Paediatric Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Celine Bourdon
- Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.,The Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition Network, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Paraskevi Massara
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Iná S Santos
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aluísio J D Barros
- Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Elena M Comelli
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,Joannah and Brian Lawson Center for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Robert H J Bandsma
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,Translational Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada. .,Centre for Global Child Health, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Massara P, Spiegel-Feld C, Hamilton J, Maguire JL, Birken C, Bandsma R, Comelli EM. Association between gut MIcrobiota, GROWth and Diet in peripubertal children from the TARGet Kids! cohort (The MiGrowD) study: protocol for studying gut microbiota at a community-based primary healthcare setting. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e057989. [PMID: 35534076 PMCID: PMC9086606 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The gut microbiota interacts with diet to affect body health throughout the life cycle. Critical periods of growth, such as infancy and puberty, are characterised by microbiota remodelling and changes in dietary habits. While the relationship between gut microbiota and growth in early life has been studied, our understanding of this relationship during puberty remains limited. Here, we describe the MIcrobiota, GROWth and Diet in peripubertal children (The MiGrowD) study, which aims to assess the tripartite growth-gut microbiota-diet relationship at puberty. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The MiGrowD study will be a cross-sectional, community-based study involving children 8-12 years participating in the TARGet Kids! COHORT TARGet Kids! is a primary healthcare practice-based research network in Canada. Children will be asked to provide a stool sample, complete two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls and a pubertal self-assessment based on Tanner Stages. Anthropometry will also be conducted. The primary outcome is the association between gut microbiota composition and longitudinal growth from birth until entry into the study. Anthropometrics data from birth will be from the data collected prospectively through TARGet Kids!. Body mass index z-scores will be calculated according to WHO. The secondary outcome is the association between gut microbiota, diet and pubertal stage. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval has been obtained by the Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael's Hospital-Unity Health, and the University of Toronto. Results will be disseminated in the public and academic sector, including participants, TARGet Kids! primary healthcare physicians teams, scientists via participation in the TARGet Kids! science and physician meetings, conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. The MiGrowD study results will help researchers understand the relationships underlying growth, gut microbiota and pubertal maturation in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Massara
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Carolyn Spiegel-Feld
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jill Hamilton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Endocrinology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jonathon L Maguire
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Catherine Birken
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Center for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Pediatric Outcomes Research Team, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Bandsma
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Elena M Comelli
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
- Joannah and Brian Lawson Center for Child Nutrition, University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
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