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Malnutrition impairs cognitive, communication, and motor development, but it is not known how nutrition and health are associated with development in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). We aimed to describe motor and language development of children with MAM and explore its nutrition and health‐related correlates. This cross‐sectional study used baseline data from a nutritional trial in children with MAM aged 6–23 months in Burkina Faso. Motor and language skills were assessed using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT). Linear mixed models were used to explore potential correlates of MDAT including socio‐economic status, anthropometry, body composition, whole‐blood polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), haemoglobin (Hb), iron status, and morbidity. We also assessed child and caregiver participation during MDAT procedures and their associations with correlates and development. MDAT data were available for 1.608 children. Mean (95% CI) MDAT z‐scores were −0.39 (−0.45, −0.34) for gross motor, 0.54 (0.48, 0.59) for fine motor, and −0.91 (−0.96, −0.86) for language skills. Children with higher mid‐upper arm circumference, weight‐for‐height, height‐for‐age, fat‐free mass, n‐3 PUFAs, Hb, and iron status had better MDAT z‐scores, whereas children with more fat mass index, anaemia, illness, and inflammation had poorer z‐scores. In addition, children living in larger households or with an unmarried mother had poorer MDAT z‐scores. Associations between morbidity and z‐scores were largely explained by children's poorer participation during MDAT assessment. The identified factors associated with child development may inform interventions needed to stimulate development during or after management of MAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) are treated with lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) or corn-soy blends (CSBs) but little is known about the impact of these supplements on hemoglobin, iron status, and inflammation. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of supplementary foods for treatment of MAM on hemoglobin, iron status, inflammation, and malaria. Design: A randomized 2 × 2 × 3 factorial trial was conducted in Burkina Faso. Children aged 6-23 mo with MAM received 500 kcal/d as LNS or CSB, containing either dehulled soy (DS) or soy isolate (SI) and different quantities of dry skimmed milk (0%, 20% or 50% of total protein) for 12 wk. The trial was double-blind with regard to quality of soy and quantity of milk, but not matrix (CSB compared to LNS). Hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum a1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and malaria antigens were measured at inclusion and after supplementation. Results: Between September 2013 and August 2014, 1609 children were enrolled. Among these, 61 (3.8%) were lost to follow-up. During the 12-wk supplementation period, prevalence of anemia, low SF adjusted for inflammation (SFAI), elevated sTfR, and iron-deficiency anemia decreased by 16.9, 8.7, 12.6 and 10.5 percentage points. Children who received LNS compared to CSB had higher hemoglobin (2 g/L; 95% CI: 1, 4 g/L), SFAI (4.2 µg/L; 95% CI: 2.9, 5.5 µg/L), and CRP (0.8 mg/L; 95% CI: 0.4, 1.2 mg/L) and lower sTfR (-0.9 mg/L, 95% CI: -1.3, -0.6 mg/L) after the intervention. Replacing DS with SI or increasing milk content did not affect hemoglobin, SFAI, sTfR, or CRP. Conclusion: Supplementation with LNS compared to CSB led to better hemoglobin and iron status, but overall prevalence of anemia remained high. The higher concentrations of acute-phase proteins in children who received LNSs requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]