Different associations of subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses with pathogen load: An ecogeographical analysis

Wells, Jonathan C. K.; Cortina‐Borja, Mario

doi:10.1002/ajhb.22418

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…Previous work has shown a tendency for greater overall adiposity (Beall and Goldstein, 1992; Wells, 2012a) and perhaps greater abdominal adiposity in populations from cold climates (Beall and Goldstein, 1992; though see Wells, 2012a). Variation in fat distribution has also been suggested to reflect differences in pathogen load between populations (Wells and Cortina-Borja, 2013). Although we are not aware of good data comparing infectious disease loads in similar populations to those studied here, respiratory infections are reportedly more frequent in the highlands (Way, 1976), suggesting differences in pathogen profiles as well as access to healthcare.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stunting, adiposity, and the individual‐level “dual burden” among urban lowland and rural highland peruvian children

Pomeroy

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Stanojevic

et al. 2014

American J Hum Biol

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BackgroundThe causes of the “dual burden” of stunting and obesity remain unclear, and its existence at the individual level varies between populations. We investigate whether the individual dual burden differentially affects low socioeconomic status Peruvian children from contrasting environments (urban lowlands and rural highlands), and whether tibia length can discount the possible autocorrelation between adiposity proxies and height due to height measurement error.MethodsStature, tibia length, weight, and waist circumference were measured in children aged 3–8.5 years (n = 201). Height and body mass index (BMI) z scores were calculated using international reference data. Age-sex-specific centile curves were also calculated for height, BMI, and tibia length. Adiposity proxies (BMI z score, waist circumference-height ratio (WCHtR)) were regressed on height and also on tibia length z scores.ResultsRegression model interaction terms between site (highland vs. lowland) and height indicate that relationships between adiposity and linear growth measures differed significantly between samples (P < 0.001). Height was positively associated with BMI among urban lowland children, and more weakly with WCHtR. Among rural highland children, height was negatively associated with WCHtR but unrelated to BMI. Similar results using tibia length rather than stature indicate that stature measurement error was not a major concern.ConclusionsLowland and rural highland children differ in their patterns of stunting, BMI, and WCHtR. These contrasts likely reflect environmental differences and overall environmental stress exposure. Tibia length or knee height can be used to assess the influence of measurement error in height on the relationship between stature and BMI or WCHtR.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stunting, adiposity, and the individual‐level “dual burden” among urban lowland and rural highland peruvian children

Pomeroy

Stock

Stanojevic

et al. 2014

American J Hum Biol

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“…For instance, "long legs", which increases the proportion of children with a low WHZ is found mainly in wealthier families and has been associated with good health [9]. It has been suggested that central fat (influencing WHZ) is predominantly involved in the regulation of the immune response and higher expression of cytokine genes, while peripheral fat (more influencing MUAC) seems more closely related to leptin which also plays a role in the regulation of the immune response but is also linked to survival [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low mid-upper arm circumference identifies children with a high risk of death who should be the priority target for treatment

et al. 2016

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Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is currently defined by the WHO as either a low mid-upper arm circumference (i.e. MUAC <115 mm), a low weight-for-height z-score (i.e. WHZ <− 3), or bilateral pitting oedema. MUAC and WHZ do not always identify the same children as having SAM. This has generated broad debate, as illustrated by the recent article by Grellety & Golden (BMC Nutr. 2016;2:10). Discussion: Regional variations in the proportion of children selected by each index seem mostly related to differences in body shape, including stuntedness. However, the practical implications of these variations in relation to nutritional status and also to outcome are not clear. All studies that have examined the relationship between anthropometry and mortality in representative population samples in Africa and in Asia have consistently showed that MUAC is more sensitive at high specificity levels than WHZ for identifying children at high risk of death. Children identified as SAM cases by low MUAC gain both weight and MUAC in response to treatment. The widespread use of MUAC has brought enormous benefits in terms of the coverage and efficiency of programs. As a large high-risk group responding to treatment, children with low MUAC should be regarded as a public health priority independently of their WHZ. Conclusion: While a better understanding of the mechanism behind the discrepancy between MUAC and WHZ is desirable, research in this area should not delay the implementation of programs aiming at effectively reducing malnutrition-related deaths by prioritising the detection and treatment of children with low MUAC.

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“…[64][65][66][67] An eco-261 geographical analysis identified an inverse association between subscapular skinfold 262 thickness and markers of the local pathogen burden, suggesting that populations with high 263 pathogen burdens metabolise central body fat to fund immune function. 68 There is 264 mechanistic support for this hypothesis, as visceral fat has high expression of genes involved 265 in the complement system. 69 Regardless of whether this specific hypothesis is correct, ethnic differences in body fat 281 distribution, lepin and cytokines are already well established.…”

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“…69 Regardless of whether this specific hypothesis is correct, ethnic differences in body fat 281 distribution, lepin and cytokines are already well established. 62,68,71,72 In UK children, the 282 association between adiposity and insulin resistance differs by ethnicity, so that body fat 283 appears to be 'more toxic' in those of South Asian ancestry. 73 Since the energy-deficit 284 imposed by starvation can be assumed to be a human 'constant', and since most starvation 285 deaths occur via infection, the notion that ethnic differences in adipose tissue biology may 286 have been shaped by local infectious disease burdens merits further consideration.…”

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confidence: 99%

Body composition and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: an evolutionary perspective

Wells

2017

Eur J Clin Nutr

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1Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in prevalence worldwide, in concert with epidemics of 2 obesity and sedentary behaviour that are themselves tracking economic development. 3Within this broad pattern, susceptibility to diabetes varies substantially in association with 4 ethnicity and nutritional exposures through the life-course. An evolutionary perspective may 5 help understand why humans are so prone to this condition in modern environments, and 6 why this risk is unequally distributed. A simple conceptual model treats diabetes risk as the 7 function of two interacting traits, namely 'metabolic capacity' which promotes glucose 8 homeostasis, and 'metabolic load' which challenges glucose homoeostasis. This conceptual 9 model helps understand how long-term and more recent trends in body composition can 10 then be considered to have shaped variability in diabetes risk. Hominin evolution appears to 11 have continued a broader trend evident in primates, towards lower levels of muscularity. In 12 addition, hominins developed higher levels of body fatness, especially in females in relative 13 terms. These traits most likely evolved as part of a broader reorganisation of human life 14 history traits in response to growing levels of ecological instability, enabling both survival 15 during tough periods and reproduction during bountiful periods. Since the emergence of 16Homo sapiens, populations have diverged in body composition in association with 17 geographical setting and local ecological stresses. These long-term trends in both metabolic 18 capacity and adiposity help explain the overall susceptibility of humans to diabetes in ways 19 that are similar to, and exacerbated by, the effects of nutritional exposures during the life-20 course. 21

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Different associations of subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses with pathogen load: An ecogeographical analysis

Cited by 27 publications

References 113 publications

Stunting, adiposity, and the individual‐level “dual burden” among urban lowland and rural highland peruvian children

Stunting, adiposity, and the individual‐level “dual burden” among urban lowland and rural highland peruvian children

Low mid-upper arm circumference identifies children with a high risk of death who should be the priority target for treatment

Body composition and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: an evolutionary perspective

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