Whole-blood PUFA and associations with markers of nutritional and health status in acutely malnourished children in Cambodia
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To measure fatty acid composition, particularly whole-blood PUFA content, in acutely malnourished children and identify associations with markers of nutritional and health status.
DESIGN: PUFA were assessed in dried blood spots obtained from a cross-sectional study. Nutritional and health status were assessed by anthropometry, haemoglobinopathies, inflammation and blood counts.
SETTING: Cambodia.
PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted with 174 children aged 0·5-18 years with acute malnutrition.
RESULTS: Among total fatty acids (FA), the relative percentage of total PUFA was 20 % FA, with 14 % of the children having very low PUFA (mead acid (MA):arachidonic acid (AA) >0·02, n-6 docosapentaenoic acid:DHA >0·2 and total n-6:n-3 PUFA >10·5). Wasting was not associated with any PUFA. Stunting and low height were consistently positively associated with total PUFA and positively with n-6 PUFA. Height was positively associated with n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA). The presence of haemoglobinopathies or inflammation was positively associated with MA:AA, but not total PUFA. Elevated blood platelet counts were positively correlated with linoleic acid and appeared to be influenced by anaemia (P = 0·010) and inflammation (P = 0·002). Monocyte counts were high during inflammation (P = 0·052) and correlated positively with n-6 LCPUFA and n-3 LCPUFA.
CONCLUSIONS: Children with acute malnutrition or stunting had low PUFA, while elevated platelets and monocytes were associated with…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 174 participants or records.
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