Relation between body composition at birth and child development at 2 years of age: a prospective cohort study among Ethiopian children

Abera, Mubarek; Tesfaye, Markos; Girma, Tsinuel; Hanlon, Charlotte; Andersen, Gregers; Wells, Jonathan C. K.; Admassu, Bitiya; Wibaek, Rasmus; Friis, Henrik; Kæstel, Pernille

doi:10.1038/ejcn.2017.129

Cited by 9 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…As far as we know, only one previous study has investigated the relationship between body composition and cognitive development. This was a longitudinal study among healthy Ethiopian children, which supports a beneficial effect of FFM as the authors found that more FFM at birth and a higher rate of postnatal FFM accretion predicted better development at 1 and 2 years of age, whereas FM was not associated (Abera et al, ; Abera, Tesfaye, Admassu, et al, ). However, the study found that children with higher FM at birth had more emotional and behavioural problems at 5 years (Abera et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…However, even in individuals with similar anthropometry, body composition may differ considerably (Deurenberg, Yap, & van Staveren, ), and children who are acutely malnourished may be at different risk of developmental delay depending on whether relatively more lean or fat mass has been lost. Recently, the importance of fat‐free mass (FFM) for child development was highlighted in an Ethiopian study showing that FFM at birth (Abera et al, ) and accretion during early infancy (Abera et al, ) predicted developmental status later in childhood. Other factors of potential importance to brain development among children with MAM include long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA), haemoglobin (Hb), iron status, morbidity, and socio‐economic characteristics of children (González et al, ; Nyaradi, Li, Hickling, Foster, & Oddy, ; Prado & Dewey, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Olsen

Iuel‐Brockdorff

Yaméogo

et al. 2019

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Olsen

Iuel‐Brockdorff

Yaméogo

et al. 2019

Maternal & Child Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In our previous report from the same cohort, FFM tissue at birth was associated positively with growth and cognitive development of children from 1-5 years of age (39,40). Based on the current and previous findings from this cohort (31,(39)(40)(41) Foetal FM tissue accretion measured at birth showed a positive association with SDQ score and externalising problem score at 5 years of age. One previous study also reported a positive association between adiposity and higher SDQ score during early childhood (27), and higher risk of mental illness during adulthood (27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Within 48 hours of delivery at the hospital, mothers and their newborn babies were examined for baseline information. Further details of the cohort and the setting have been published elsewhere (28,29,31,32).…”

Section: Methods and Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body Composition during Early Infancy and Mental Health Outcomes at 5 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study of Ethiopian Children

Abera

Tesfaye

Hanlon

et al. 2018

The Journal of Pediatrics

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Infant body composition: A comprehensive overview of assessment techniques, nutrition factors, and health outcomes

Jerome,

Valcarce,

Lach

et al. 2023

Nut in Clin Prac

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Body composition assessment is a valuable tool for clinical assessment and research that has implications for long‐term health. Unlike traditional measurements such as anthropometrics or body mass index, body composition assessments provide more accurate measures of body fatness and lean mass. Moreover, depending on the technique, they can offer insight into regional body composition, bone mineral density, and brown adipose tissue. Various methods of body composition assessment exist, including air displacement plethysmography, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance, magnetic resonance imaging, D3 creatine, ultrasound, and skinfold thickness, each with its own strengths and limitations. In infants, several feeding practices and nutrition factors are associated with body composition outcomes, such as breast milk vs formula feeding, protein intake, breast milk composition, and postdischarge formulas for preterm infants. Longitudinal studies suggest that body composition in infancy predicts later body composition, obesity, and other cardiometabolic outcomes in childhood, making it a useful early marker of cardiometabolic health in both term and preterm infants. Emerging evidence also suggests that body composition during infancy predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly in preterm infants at high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive overview of body composition assessment techniques, summarize the links between specific nutrition practices and body composition in infancy, and describe the neurodevelopmental and cardiometabolic outcomes associated with body composition patterns in term and preterm infants.

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Relation between body composition at birth and child development at 2 years of age: a prospective cohort study among Ethiopian children

Cited by 9 publications

References 52 publications

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

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

Body Composition during Early Infancy and Mental Health Outcomes at 5 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study of Ethiopian Children

Infant body composition: A comprehensive overview of assessment techniques, nutrition factors, and health outcomes

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