Correlates of whole-blood polyunsaturated fatty acids among young children with moderate acute malnutrition

Abstract

BackgroundSevere acute malnutrition (SAM) has been associated with low polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status. However, investigations regarding PUFA status and correlates in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) from low-income countries are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe whole-blood PUFA levels in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and to identify correlates of PUFAs.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data from a prospective nutritional intervention trial among 1609 children with MAM aged 6–23 months in Burkina Faso,West Africa. Whole-blood PUFAs were measured by gas chromatography and expressed as percent of total whole-blood fatty acids (FA%). Potential correlates of PUFAs including infection, inflammation, hemoglobin, anthropometry (difference between children diagnosed as having MAM based on low mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC) only, low MUAC and weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), or low WHZ only) and diet were assessed by linear regression adjusted for age and sex.ResultsChildren with MAM had low concentrations of whole-blood PUFAs, particularly n-3 PUFAs. Moreover, children diagnosed with MAM based only on low MUAC had 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.14; 0.50) and 0.40 (95% CI, 0.16; 0.63) FA% lower arachidonic acid (AA) than those recruited based on both low WHZ as well as low MUAC and those recruited with low WHZ only, respectively. Infection and inflammation were associated with low levels of all long-chain (LC)-PUFAs, while hemoglobin was positively associated with whole-blood LC-PUFAs.ConclusionWhile PUFA deficiency was not a general problem, overall whole-blood PUFA concentrations, especially of n-3 PUFAs, were low. Infection, inflammation, hemoglobin, anthropometry and diet were correlates of PUFAs concentrations in children with MAM.Trial registrationThe trial is registered at http://www.isrctn.com (ISRCTN42569496).

Early development in children with moderate acute malnutrition: A cross‐sectional study in Burkina Faso

“…In addition, we found that PUFA status, especially n‐3 LC‐PUFAs, were associated with better development scores. As we have previously reported, family diets in our study population were predominantly cereal‐based with low consumption of animal‐source foods including cow's milk, fish, vegetable oils, and other sources of n‐3 PUFA (Yaméogo et al, ). Consequently, overall PUFA deficiency was not found to be a problem in this population, but levels of n‐3 LC‐PUFA were low and potentially a limiting factor for the development of children.…”

“…There was very little variation in other socio‐economic characteristics (e.g., 99% lived in a house owned by one of the household members and 99% used coal as cooking fuel). Data on anthropometry, MAM‐defining criteria, body composition, LC‐PUFA, Hb, iron status, and morbidity are presented in Table for information and described in more detail in previous publications (Cichon et al, ; Fabiansen, Yaméogo, Iuel‐Brockdorf, et al, ; Yaméogo et al, ); 27% of children were moderately stunted (HAZ between −2 and −3) and 10% severely stunted (HAZ <−3). Morbidity was very common with 38% recently ill and 40% having a positive malaria test on the day of MDAT assessment.…”

“…A 2.5 mL of venous blood was collected from the arm and used to saturate 1 cm 2 of a chromatography paper strip treated with 50‐μg 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol (butylated hydroxytoluene) and 1,000‐μg deferoxamine mesylate salt (both from Sigma‐Aldrich, St. Louis, MI, USA) for analysis of whole‐blood fatty acid composition, as previously described (Yaméogo et al, ). Data are given as percent by weight of individual fatty acids relative to the total fatty acid concentration in each sample (FA%).…”

“…Data are given as percent by weight of individual fatty acids relative to the total fatty acid concentration in each sample (FA%). We regarded the triene to tetraene ratio (defined as Mead acid (C20:3n‐9):AA (arachidonic acid, C20:4n‐6) as an indicator of low overall PUFA status (Sardesai, ), whereas the n‐6 DPA (docosapentaenoic acid, C22:5n‐6):DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, C20:6n‐3) and n‐6:n‐3 PUFA ratios were regarded as indicators of low n‐3 PUFA status as in previous reports from the study (Yaméogo et al, ).…”

Impact of Treatment with RUTF on Plasma Lipid Profiles of Severely Malnourished Pakistani Children

“…QC for metabolomics measurements was performed as previously described [ 20 ]. For GPL-FA, we calculated the sums of SFA (∑SFA), MUFA (∑MUFA), PUFA (∑PUFA) and the ratios: Mead acid (C20:3n-9) to arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) (marker of EFA deficiency) [ 21 , 22 ]; AA to linoleic acid (LA) (C20:4n-6/C18:2n-6) (a marker of PUFA to LC-PUFA conversion by Δ-6 desaturase, Δ-5 desaturase, and elongase activities) [ 23 , 24 ]; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) to AA; n-6 docasapentaenoic to docosahexaenoic acid (n-6 DPA/DHA, C22:5n-6/C22:6n-3): and n-6 to n-3 PUFA (markers of n-3 PUFA status) [ 25 , 26 ]. For the PL species, we calculated ∑PC.aa, ∑PC.ae, ∑lyso.PC.a, ∑lyso.PCe, ∑PC, and ∑SM.…”