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Jobarteh ML, Conway-Moore K, Yadav D, Tata DT, Fahmida U, Faye B, Kulkarni B, Saxena D, Heffernan C. Unpacking the intractability of childhood stunting: an introduction to the UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e002333. [PMID: 38519064 PMCID: PMC10961497 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kaitlin Conway-Moore
- Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dinesh Yadav
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Darius Testa Tata
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Umi Fahmida
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), Central Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Babacar Faye
- Faculté de médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Deepak Saxena
- Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Claire Heffernan
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Momo Kadia B, Ramsteijn AS, Dasi T, Fahmida U, Kulkarni B, Faye B, Htet MK, Sow D, Kalashikam RR, Sharma R, Sudibya ARP, Kusuma S, Angelin TC, Nurfadilah M, Jobarteh ML, Diop NS, Gabain I, Calvo-Urbano B, Ferguson E, Haggarty P, Heffernan C, Webster JP, Walker AW, Allen S. Assessment of the role of gut health in childhood stunting in a multisite, longitudinal study in India, Indonesia and Senegal: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e001637. [PMID: 38417928 PMCID: PMC10900321 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001637] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Childhood stunting has a complex aetiology, with poor gut health being an important contributor. This study will assess inter-relationships between maternal and infant gut health indices and infant linear growth. Inter-relationships between gut health indices, systemic inflammation and growth hormones in early childhood will also be assessed. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A longitudinal observational study of cohorts of 600 newborns and their mothers in India, Indonesia and Senegal will be conducted. Women will be recruited during pregnancy and their children followed up to age 24 months. Stool, urine and blood samples will be collected from the women and children for assessments of helminthic and protozoal parasites, bacterial pathogens, faecal microbiota taxa, biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction, systemic inflammation and growth hormones. Child anthropometric measurements will be collected at birth and at ages 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. The gut health indices will be integrated with cohort data from other Action Against Stunting Hub (AASH) workstreams for interdisciplinary analyses of childhood stunting and the development of a new typology of stunting. DISCUSSION This study will advance scientific understanding of the role of gut health in childhood stunting and will contribute to a broader knowledge of the complex aetiology of this condition as part of the interdisciplinary AASH research to reduce the global burden of childhood stunting. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study has been approved by the relevant Ethics Committees in Senegal, India, and Indonesia and LSHTM. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Momo Kadia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Teena Dasi
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Umi Fahmida
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Babacar Faye
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Min Kyaw Htet
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Doudou Sow
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, UFR Sciences de la Santé, Université Gaston Berger, Saint Louis, Sénégal
| | | | - Ritu Sharma
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Arienta R P Sudibya
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Sari Kusuma
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tiffany C Angelin
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Mifa Nurfadilah
- Southeast Asian Ministry of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), East Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ndeye Sokhna Diop
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Isobel Gabain
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Beatriz Calvo-Urbano
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Elaine Ferguson
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Paul Haggarty
- Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Claire Heffernan
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- London International Development Centre, London, UK
| | - Joanne P Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Alan W Walker
- Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Stephen Allen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Jobarteh ML, Saxena DB, Kulkarni B, Shah K, Banjara SK, Shah PA, Memon F, Chilumula M, Palepu DP, Selvaraj K, Dasi T, Madhari R, Calvo-Urbano B, Dockrell J, Antalek C, Davies-Kershaw H, Ferguson E, Heffernan C. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigation strategy during pregnancy on prenatal outcome, growth and development in early childhood in India: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e001900. [PMID: 38417925 PMCID: PMC10900341 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001900] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has offset some of the gains achieved in global health, particularly in relation to maternal, child health and nutrition. As pregnancy is a period of plasticity where insults acting on maternal environment have far-reaching consequences, the pandemic has had a significant impact on prenatal outcomes, intrauterine and postnatal development of infants. This research will investigate both the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy on prenatal outcomes, growth and development in early childhood. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Community and hospital data in Hyderabad and Gujarat, India will be used to recruit women who were pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic and contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. In comparison with women who were pregnant around the same time and did not contract the virus, the study will investigate the impact of the pandemic on access to healthcare, diet, nutrition, mental health and prenatal outcomes in 712 women (356 per study arm). Children born to the women will be followed prospectively for an 18-month period to investigate the impact of the pandemic on nutrition, health, growth and neurocognition in early childhood. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval was granted from the institutional ethics committees of the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (SHSRC/2021/2185), Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (EC/NEW/INST/2021/1206), and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (72848). The findings of the study will be disseminated to policy and research communities through engagements, scientific conferences, seminars, and open-access, peer-reviewed publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Deepak B Saxena
- Department of Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Bharati Kulkarni
- Clinical Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Komal Shah
- Department of Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, India
| | | | - Priyanka Akshay Shah
- Department of Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Farjana Memon
- Department of Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Monica Chilumula
- Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Kiruthika Selvaraj
- Clinical Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Teena Dasi
- Clinical Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Radhika Madhari
- Clinical Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Beatriz Calvo-Urbano
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, University of London, London, UK
| | - Julie Dockrell
- Faculty of Children and Learning, University of London Institute of Education, London, UK
| | - Catherine Antalek
- Faculty of Children and Health, University of London Institute of Education, London, UK
| | - Hilary Davies-Kershaw
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Elaine Ferguson
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Claire Heffernan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, London International Development Centre, London, UK
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Banjara SK, Challa SR, Augustine LF, Dasi T, Madhari R, Fernandez Rao S, Palika R, Pullakhandam R, Kalashikam RR, Kumar RN, Palepu DP, Chilumula M, Selvaraj K, Gopinath P, Davies-Kershaw H, Jobarteh ML, Haggarty P, Heffernan C, Ferguson E, Kulkarni B. Eggs for Improving Nutrition, cognitive development and reducing linear growth retardation among Infants and young Children (ENRICH): protocol of an egg supplementation trial among children aged 9-18 months in Hyderabad, India. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e001892. [PMID: 38417922 PMCID: PMC10900354 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001892] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence on the impact of nutrient-rich animal source foods such as eggs for improving child growth and cognition is inconsistent. This study aims to examine the impact of an egg intervention in children, along with behaviour change communication (BCC) to the mother, on linear growth and cognition, and nutritional status in children aged 9-18 months. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A 9-month open-labelled randomised controlled trial will be conducted in three urban slums in Hyderabad, India, as a substudy of an observational cohort study (n=350) following pregnant women and their children until 18 months of age in a population at risk of stunting. The children born to women enrolled during the third trimester of pregnancy will be block randomised in a 1:4 ratio into the intervention (n=70) and control (n=280) groups. Children in the intervention group will be supplemented with one egg per day starting from 9 months until 18 months of age. BCC designed to enhance adherence to the intervention will be used. The control group will be a part of the observational cohort and will not receive any intervention from the study team. The primary outcome will be length-for-age z-scores, and the secondary outcomes will include cognition, blood biomarkers of nutritional status including fatty acid profile and epigenetic signatures linked with linear growth and cognition. Multivariate intention-to-treat analyses will be conducted to assess the effect of the intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study is approved by the Institutional ethics committees of ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to policy-makers. Findings will also be shared with study participants and community leaders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER CTRI/2021/11/038208.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sai Ram Challa
- ICMR - National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Teena Dasi
- ICMR - National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Claire Heffernan
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, University of London, London, UK
- London International Development Centre (LIDC), London, UK
| | - Elaine Ferguson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK
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Davies-Kershaw H, Fahmida U, Htet MK, Kulkarni B, Faye B, Yanti D, Shinta D, Zahra NL, Angelin TC, Madhari R, Pullakhandam R, Palika R, Dasi T, Fernandez Rao S, Banjara SK, Selvaraj K, Palepu DP, Yadev D, Diouf S, Lopez-Sall P, Diallo B, Mouissi P, Fall S, Diallo I, Djigal A, Immerzeel TDV, Tairou F, Diop A, Pradeilles R, Strout S, Momo Kadia B, Tata DT, Jobarteh ML, Allen S, Walker A, Webster JP, Haggarty P, Heffernan C, Ferguson E. Anthropometric, biochemical, dietary, morbidity and well-being assessments in women and children in Indonesia, India and Senegal: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e001683. [PMID: 38417920 PMCID: PMC10910654 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001683] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Child stunting has a complex aetiology, especially in the first 1000 days of life. Nutrition interventions alone have not produced expected impacts in reducing/preventing child stunting, indicating the importance of understanding the complex interplay between environmental, physiological and psychological factors influencing child nutritional status. This study will investigate maternal and child nutrition, health and well-being status and associated factors through the assessment of: (1) anthropometry, (2) biomarkers of nutrition and health status, (3) dietary intakes, (4) fetal growth and development, (5) infant morbidity, (6) infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and (7) perinatal maternal stress, depression and social support. METHODS This study will be conducted in a prospective pregnancy cohort in India, Indonesia and Senegal. Pregnant women will be recruited in the second (Indonesia, Senegal) and third (India) trimester of pregnancy, and the mother and infant dyads followed until the infant is 24 months of age. During pregnancy, anthropometric measures will be taken, venous blood samples will be collected for biochemical assessment of nutrition and health status, dietary intakes will be assessed using a 4-pass-24-hour dietary recall method (MP24HR), fetal ultrasound for assessment of fetal growth. After birth, anthropometry measurements will be taken, venous blood samples will be collected, MP24HR will be conducted, infant morbidity and IYCF practices will be assessed and a sample of breastmilk will be collected for nutrient composition analyses. Perinatal maternal stress, depression, social support and hair cortisol levels (stress) will be measured. The results from this study will be integrated in an interdisciplinary analysis to examine factors influencing infant growth and inform global efforts in reducing child stunting. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (17915/RR/17513); National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR)-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (CR/04/I/2021); Health Research Ethics Committee, University of Indonesia and Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (KET-887/UN2.F1/ETIK/PPM.00.02/2019); and the Comité National d'Ethique pour la Recherche en Santé, Senegal (Protocole SEN19/78); the Royal Veterinary College (URN SR2020-0197) and the International Livestock Research Institute Institutional Research Ethics Committee (ILRI-IREC2020-33). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to policy-makers and participating communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Davies-Kershaw
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Umi Fahmida
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Min Kyaw Htet
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Bharati Kulkarni
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Babacar Faye
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Dwi Yanti
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Dewi Shinta
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nur L Zahra
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Tiffany C Angelin
- Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition, SEAMEO, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Radhika Madhari
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Raghu Pullakhandam
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Ravindranadh Palika
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Teena Dasi
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sylvia Fernandez Rao
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Banjara
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Kiruthika Selvaraj
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dharani Pratyusha Palepu
- Deparments of Maternal and Child Health and Dietetics Division, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dinesh Yadev
- Department of Public Health, London International Development Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Saliou Diouf
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Philomene Lopez-Sall
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Babacar Diallo
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Princillia Mouissi
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Sally Fall
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Ibrahima Diallo
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Aicha Djigal
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Fassia Tairou
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Assana Diop
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie- Pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, UCAD, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Rebecca Pradeilles
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- UMR, MOISA, Montpellier, France
| | - Sara Strout
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Momo Kadia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Darius Tetsa Tata
- Department of Public Health, London International Development Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stephen Allen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alan Walker
- The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Joanne P Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, University of London, London, UK
| | - Paul Haggarty
- The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Claire Heffernan
- Department of Public Health, London International Development Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Elaine Ferguson
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Jobarteh ML, McArdle HJ, Holtrop G, Sise EA, Prentice AM, Moore SE. mRNA Levels of Placental Iron and Zinc Transporter Genes Are Upregulated in Gambian Women with Low Iron and Zinc Status. J Nutr 2017; 147:1401-1409. [PMID: 28515164 PMCID: PMC5483961 DOI: 10.3945/jn.116.244780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The role of the placenta in regulating micronutrient transport in response to maternal status is poorly understood. Objective: We investigated the effect of prenatal nutritional supplementation on the regulation of placental iron and zinc transport. Methods: In a randomized trial in rural Gambia [ENID (Early Nutrition and Immune Development)], pregnant women were allocated to 1 of 4 nutritional intervention arms: 1) iron and folic acid (FeFol) tablets (FeFol group); 2) multiple micronutrient (MMN) tablets (MMN group); 3) protein energy (PE) as a lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS; PE group); and 4) PE and MMN (PE+MMN group) as LNS. All arms included iron (60 mg/d) and folic acid (400 μg/d). The MMN and PE+MMN arms included 30 mg supplemental Zn/d. In a subgroup of ∼300 mother-infant pairs, we measured maternal iron status, mRNA levels of genes encoding for placental iron and zinc transport proteins, and cord blood iron levels. Results: Maternal plasma iron concentration in late pregnancy was 45% and 78% lower in the PE and PE+MMN groups compared to the FeFol and MMN groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The mRNA levels of the placental iron uptake protein transferrin receptor 1 were 30–49% higher in the PE and PE+MMN arms than in the FeFol arm (P < 0.031), and also higher in the PE+MMN arm (29%; P = 0.042) than in the MMN arm. Ferritin in infant cord blood was 18–22% lower in the LNS groups (P < 0.024). Zinc supplementation in the MMN arm was associated with higher maternal plasma zinc concentrations (10% increase; P < 0.001) than in other intervention arms. mRNA levels for intracellular zinc-uptake proteins, in this case zrt, irt-like protein (ZIP) 4 and ZIP8, were 96–205% lower in the PE+MMN arm than in the intervention arms without added zinc (P < 0.025). Furthermore, mRNA expression of ZIP1 was 85% lower in the PE+MMN group than in the PE group (P = 0.003). Conclusion: In conditions of low maternal iron and in the absence of supplemental zinc, the placenta upregulates the gene expression of iron and zinc uptake proteins, presumably in order to meet fetal demands in the face of low maternal supply. The ENID trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN49285450.
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Affiliation(s)
- Modou Lamin Jobarteh
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia.,Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Harry J McArdle
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Grietje Holtrop
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS), Aberdeen, United Kingdom; and
| | - Ebrima A Sise
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia
| | | | - Sophie E Moore
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia; .,Division of Women's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Jobarteh ML, Moore S, Kennedy C, Gambling L, McArdle HJ. The effect of nutritional supplementation during pregnancy on placental transporter expression in placentas from Gambian women. Placenta 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.06.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Moore SE, Fulford AJ, Darboe MK, Jobarteh ML, Jarjou LM, Prentice AM. A randomized trial to investigate the effects of pre-natal and infant nutritional supplementation on infant immune development in rural Gambia: the ENID trial: Early Nutrition and Immune Development. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2012; 12:107. [PMID: 23057665 PMCID: PMC3534399 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent observational research indicates that immune development may be programmed by nutritional exposures early in life. Such findings require replication from trials specifically designed to assess the impact of nutritional intervention during pregnancy on infant immune development. The current trial seeks to establish: (a) which combination of protein-energy (PE) and multiple-micronutrient (MMN) supplements would be most effective; and (b) the most critical periods for intervention in pregnancy and infancy, for optimal immune development in infancy. METHODS/DESIGN The ENID Trial is a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial randomized, partially blind trial to assess whether nutritional supplementation to pregnant women (from < 20 weeks gestation to term) and their infants (from 6 to 12 months of age) can enhance infant immune development. Eligible pregnant women from the West Kiang region of The Gambia (pregnancy dated by ultrasound examination) are randomized on entry to 4 intervention groups (Iron-folate (FeFol = standard care), multiple micronutrients (MMN), protein-energy (PE), PE + MMN). Women are visited at home weekly for supplement administration and morbidity assessment and seen at MRC Keneba at 20 and 30 weeks gestation for a detailed antenatal examination, including ultrasound. At delivery, cord blood and placental samples are collected, with detailed infant anthropometry collected within 72 hours. Infants are visited weekly thereafter for a morbidity questionnaire. From 6 to 12 months of age, infants are further randomized to a lipid-based nutritional supplement, with or without additional MMN. The primary outcome measures of this study are thymic development during infancy, and antibody response to vaccination. Measures of cellular markers of immunity will be made in a selected sub-cohort. Subsidiary studies to the main trial will additionally assess the impact of supplementation on infant growth and development to 24 months of age. DISCUSSION The proposed trial is designed to test whether nutritional repletion can enhance early immune development and, if so, to help determine the most efficacious form of nutritional support. Where there is evidence of benefit from a specific intervention/combination of interventions, future research should focus on refining the supplements to achieve the optimal, most cost-effective balance of interventions for improved health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E Moore
- MRC Keneba, MRC Unit The Gambia, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia.
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