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Does docosahexaenoic acid play a role in infant malnutrition in the children of Fulani nomads in Northern Nigeria?
- Source :
- Journal of Medicine in the Tropics; Vol 15, No 2 (2013); 69-75
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Medknow, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Malnutrition is a major contributor to the death of children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, poor nutrition causes stunting and underweight in infants and children while at the same time putting at risk normal neurologic and cognitive development. A recent study of rural Fulani infants up to age 2 years in northern Nigeria found that more than one-quarter were stunted and underweight. The nutritional status of these infants was relatively sound at birth but progressively declined over the following 2 years. While insufficient dietary macronutrients such as protein and carbohydrate and micronutrients such as iodine, zinc, vitamin A and iron may well have contributed to their post-natal growth retardation, in this report we raise the possibility that inadequate intake of essential long.chain ω-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular, by infants during the first few years of life may play a role in childhood malnutrition in this part of the world, especially in populations like the Fulani pastoralists who live far-removed from the ocean which would otherwise provide access to DHA-rich seafood. We conclude this piece bysuggesting several approaches for improving the DHA status of pregnant and lactating Fulani women and their offspring in Nigeria.Key words: Docosahexaenoic acid, fatty acids, Fulani, malnutrition, Nigeria
- Subjects :
- Pediatrics
medicine.medical_specialty
education.field_of_study
Offspring
business.industry
Population
Nutrition Disorders
Infant Malnutrition
medicine.disease
Micronutrient
Child development
Malnutrition
Environmental health
medicine
Docosahexaenoic acid, fatty acids, Fulani, malnutrition, Nigeria
Underweight
medicine.symptom
business
education
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22767096
- Volume :
- 15
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Medicine in the Tropics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a86371eae13762b5b89d766ad3d9784c