Geophagy Is Associated with Growth Faltering in Children in Rural Bangladesh.

Authors :: Perin J
Thomas A
Oldja L
Ahmed S
Parvin T
Bhuyian SI
Sarker B
Biswas SK
Faruque AS
Sack RB
George CM
Source :: The Journal of pediatrics [J Pediatr] 2016 Nov; Vol. 178, pp. 34-39.e1. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Aug 02.
Publication Year :: 2016
Abstract: Objective: To determine the relationship between geophagy (mouthing of dirt, sand, clay, or mud) and growth faltering in young children.<br />Study Design: We examined linear growth as height and weight standardized by age and sex, and weight standardized by height, in a cohort of children aged 6-36 months in rural Mirzapur, Bangladesh. We determined geophagy behavior at baseline through caregiver report. Anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up.<br />Results: We found that among children not stunted at baseline, those with caregiver-reported geophagy at baseline grew less over 1 year compared with their peers, with a difference in the change of standardized height for age and sex of -0.31 (95% CI, -0.61 to -0.01).<br />Conclusion: These findings show that caregiver-reported geophagy was associated with growth faltering in a pediatric population in rural Bangladesh. Future studies are needed to learn more about this exposure pathway and its relevance to child growth.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)