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Background: The temporal relationship between length (linear) and weight (ponderal) growth in early life is important to support optimal nutrition program design. Studies based on measures of attained size have established that wasting often precedes stunting, but such studies do not capture responsiveness of growth to previous compared with current conditions. As a result, the temporality of linear and ponderal growth relationships remain unclear.Objectives: We used growth velocity indicators to assess the temporal bidirectional relationships between linear and ponderal growth in children.Methods: Using monthly anthropometric measurements from 5039 Burkinabè children enrolled at 6 months of age and followed until 28 months from August 2014 to December 2016, we employed multilevel mixed-effects models to investigate concurrent and lagged associations between linear and ponderal growth velocity, controlling for time trends, seasonality, and morbidity.Results: Faster ponderal growth is associated with faster concurrent and subsequent linear growth (0.21-0.72 increase in length velocity z-score per unit increase in weight velocity z-score), while faster linear growth is associated with slower future weight gain (0.009-0.02 decrease in weight velocity z-score per unit increase in length velocity z-score), especially among children 9-14 months. Ponderal growth slows around the same time as peaks in morbidity, followed roughly a month later by slower linear growth.Conclusions: Use of velocity measures to assess temporal dependencies between linear and ponderal growth demonstrate that the same growth-limiting conditions likely affect both length and weight velocity, that slow ponderal growth likely limits subsequent linear growth, and that linear growth spurts may not be accompanied by sufficient increases in dietary intake to avoid slowdowns in weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Linear growth faltering is determined primarily by attained heights in infancy, but available data consist mainly of cross-sectional heights at each age. Objectives This study used longitudinal data to test whether faltering occurs episodically in a few months of very low growth, which could potentially be prevented by timely intervention, or is a chronic condition with slower growth in every month of infancy and early childhood. Methods Using anthropometric data collected monthly between August 2014 and December 2016, we investigated individual growth curves of 5039 children ages 6–27 mo in Burkina Faso (108,580 observations). We evaluated growth-curve smoothness by level of attained length at ∼27 mo by analyzing variation in changes in monthly growth rates and using 2-stage regressions: 1) regressing each child's length on their age and extracting R 2 to represent curve smoothness, initial length, and average velocity by age; and 2) regressing extracted parameters on individual-level attained length. Results Short children started smaller and remained on their initial trajectories, continuously growing slower than taller children. Growth between 9 and 11 mo was the most influential on attained length; for each 1-cm/mo increase in growth velocity during this period, attained length increased by 6.71 cm (95% CI: 6.59, 6.83 cm). Furthermore, a 0.01 increase in R 2 from individual regression of length on age was associated with a 3.10-cm higher attained length (95% CI: 2.80, 3.41 cm), and having 2 consecutive months of slow growth (<15th centile relative to the sample) was associated with 1.7-cm lower attained length (95% CI: −1.80, −1.59 cm), with larger effects in younger children, suggesting that smoother growth patterns were also associated with higher attained length. Conclusions Children who experience extreme growth faltering are likely less resilient to systematic growth-limiting conditions as well as episodic insults to their growth. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02071563. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) affects 33 million children annually. Investments in formulations of corn-soy blended flours and lipid-based nutrient supplements have effectively improved MAM recovery rates. Information costs and cost-effectiveness differences are still needed. Objectives We assessed recovery and sustained recovery rates of MAM children receiving a supplementary food: ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), corn soy whey blend with fortified vegetable oil (CSWB w/oil), or Super Cereal Plus with amylase (SC + A) compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus with fortified vegetable oil (CSB+ w/oil). We also estimated differences in costs and cost effectiveness of each supplement. Methods In Sierra Leone, we randomly assigned 29 health centers to provide a supplement containing 550 kcal/d for ∼12 wk to 2691 children with MAM aged 6–59 mo. We calculated cost per enrollee, cost per child who recovered, and cost per child who sustained recovery each from 2 perspectives: program perspective and caregiver perspective, combined. Results Of 2653 MAM children (98.6%) with complete data, 1676 children (63%) recovered. There were no significant differences in the odds of recovery compared to CSB+ w/oil [0.83 (95% CI: 0.64–1.08) for CSWB w/oil, 1.01 (95% CI: 0.78–1.3) for SC + A, 1.05 (95% CI: 0.82–1.34) for RUSF]. The odds of sustaining recovery were significantly lower for RUSF (0.7; 95% CI 0.49–0.99) but not CSWB w/oil or SC + A [1.08 (95% CI: 0.73–1.6) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.67–1.4), respectively] when compared to CSB+ w/oil. Costs per enrollee [US dollars (USD)/child] ranged from $105/child in RUSF to $112/child in SC + A and costs per recovered child (USD/child) ranged from $163/child in RUSF to $179/child in CSWB w/oil, with overlapping uncertainty ranges. Costs were highest per sustained recovery (USD/child), ranging from $214/child with the CSB+ w/oil to $226/child with the SC + A, with overlapping uncertainty ranges. Conclusions The 4 supplements performed similarly across recovery (but not sustained recovery) and costed measures. Analyses of posttreatment outcomes are necessary to estimate the full cost of MAM treatment. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03146897. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may influence growth during and recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), however, biomarkers to assess these relations have yet to be identified. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a score for EED based on host fecal mRNA transcripts, 2) compare biomarkers of EED with each other, and 3) examine associations between the EED biomarkers and recovery from MAM and growth outcomes. Methods In a cohort of 520 Sierra Leonean MAM children, biomarkers of EED included the lactulose: mannitol (L: M) test, 15 host fecal mRNA transcripts, and host fecal proteins [α-1-antitrypsin (AAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), neopterin (NEO)]. Anthropometry data were also collected and z scores were computed for length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-length (WLZ). Recovery from MAM was defined as midupper arm circumference ≥12.5 cm. Factor analysis was used to identify EED scores using the mRNA transcripts, and mixed effects regression was conducted to test for associations. Results The 15 host fecal mRNA transcripts were clustered into 3 scores: gut inflammation (GI) score, gut structure (GS) score, and gut defense (GD) score. We found agreement between certain inflammation markers (GI score and MPO), and permeability markers (GS score and AAT; AAT and the L: M excretion ratio). Antimicrobial gut defense (GD score) was inversely associated with percent lactulose excreted, a measure of intestinal permeability. LAZ (β: –0.08; 95% CI: –0.14, –0.02) and WLZ (β: –0.03; 95% CI: –0.06, –0.01) were negatively associated with GI score. A high GD score (β: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.64) and low AAT (β: –1.35; 95% CI: –2.35, –0.36) were associated with recovery from MAM. Conclusions Scores derived from host fecal mRNA transcript variably correlated with the L: M test and host fecal proteins. Markers of intestinal inflammation, permeability, and defense were associated with growth outcomes and recovery from MAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factors associated with relapse among children who are discharged after reaching a threshold denoted 'recovered' from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) are not well understood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with sustained recovery, defined as maintaining a mid-upper-arm circumference≥12·5 cm for 1 year after release from treatment. On the basis of an observational study design, we analysed data from an in-depth household (HH) survey on a sub-sample of participants within a larger cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) that followed up children for 1 year after recovery from MAM. Out of 1497 children participating in the cRCT, a subset of 315 children participated in this sub-study. Accounting for other factors, HH with fitted lids on water storage containers (P= 0·004) was a significant predictor of sustained recovery. In addition, sustained recovery was better among children whose caregivers were observed to have clean hands (P= 0·053) and in HH using an improved sanitation facility (P =0·083). By contrast, socio-economic status and infant and young child feeding practices at the time of discharge and HH food security throughout the follow-up period were not significant. Given these results, we hypothesise that improved water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in tandem with management of MAM through supplemental feeding programmes have the possibility to decrease relapse following recovery from MAM. Furthermore, the absence of associations between relapse and nearly all HH-level factors indicates that the causal factors of relapse may be related mostly to the child's individual, underlying health and nutrition status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural Bangladesh, a community-based weaning intervention used volunteers to teach complementary feeding to families of 62 breast-fed infants aged 6-12 mo. Over 5 mo, treatment children gained on average 0.46 SD (≈460 g) more in weight-for-age (WAZ) than the 55 control subjects, and were ≈0.5 kg heavier at the final measure. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The percent median weight-for-age (WAPM) of treatment children held steady at 76% of the National Center for Health Statistics' reference, whereas the WAPM of control subjects dropped from 78% to 72%. The increase in percentage points of severe malnutrition (below - 3 WAZ) was only 5% in the treatment group compared with 26% in the control subjects. Treatment children consumed a significantly greater percent of their energy and protein requirements from complementary foods than did control subjects. The affordable complementary foods consisted mainly of cereal porridge with oil and brown sugar. These findings suggest that educational interventions teaching families to feed hygienic, simple, cheap, energy-enriched complementary foods to breast-fed infants after 5-6 mo can improve child growth, even under impoverished conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a variety of specialized nutritious foods available for use in programs targeting undernutrition, but evidence supporting the choice of product is limited. Objectives We compared the cost-effectiveness of 4 specialized nutritious foods to prevent stunting and wasting in children aged 6–23 mo in Burkina Faso. Methods Four geographic regions were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention arms: Corn-Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) programmed with separate fortified vegetable oil (the reference food), Corn-Soy-Whey Blend (CSWB; a new formulation) with oil, SuperCereal Plus (SC+), and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF). We compared the effects of each intervention arm on growth (length-for-age z score (LAZ), weight-for-length z score (WLZ), end-line stunting (LAZ < −2), and total monthly measurements of wasting (WLZ < −2). Rations were ∼500 kcal/d, distributed monthly. Children were enrolled in the blanket supplementary feeding program at age ∼6 mo and measured monthly for ∼18 mo. Average costs per child reached were linked with effectiveness to compare the cost-effectiveness of each arm with CSB+ with oil. Results In our sample of 6112 children (CSB+, n  = 1519; CSWB, n  = 1503; SC+, n  = 1564; RUSF, n  = 1526), none of the foods prevented declines in growth. Children in the SC+ and RUSF arms were not significantly different than those in the CSB+ with oil arm. Children in the CSWB with oil arm experienced higher end-line (measurement at age 22.9–23.9 mo) stunting (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.46, 2.94) and more months of wasting (incidence rate ratio: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.51). CSB+ with oil was the least-expensive ration in all costing scenarios ($113–131 2018 US dollars/enrolled child) and similar in effectiveness to SC+ and RUSF, and thus the most cost-effective product for the defined purposes. Conclusions CSB+ with oil was the most cost-effective ration in the prevention of wasting and stunting in this trial. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02071563. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn Soy Blend (CSB) porridge is commonly prepared with oil for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). A recent review recommended that 30 g of oil be used with 100 g of CSB to increase energy density and micronutrient absorption. This study assessed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of program changes aimed at achieving that target oil:CSB ratio in prepared porridge. Caregivers of children in MAM supplementary feeding programs were assigned to three groups: a control group received monthly rations of 1 L oil, 8 kg CSB in bulk, and social and behavior change communication (SBCC); intervention groups received 2.6 L oil, 8 kg CSB provided either in bulk (Group 1) or four 2-kg packages with printed messages (Group 2), and enhanced SBCC emphasizing the target oil:CSB ratio. Compared to the control, both intervention groups had higher mean added oil per 100 g CSB (18 g, p < 0.01, and 13 g, p= 0.04, higher in groups 1 and 2, respectively), and greater odds of meeting or exceeding the target ratio (28.4, p< 0.01, and 12.7, p= 0.02, in groups 1 and 2, respectively). Cost per caregiver reaching the target ratio was most favorable in Group 1 ($391 in Group 1, $527 in Group 2, and $1,666 in the control). Enhanced SBCC combined with increased oil ration resulted in increased use of oil in CSB porridge in a supplementary feeding program. Modified packaging did not improve effectiveness. However, both interventions were more cost-effective than standard programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]