Impact of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements on Pubertal Status of 9-13-Year Olds: A Follow-Up Study of the iLiNS-DYAD-Ghana Trial.

Background: Early and delayed puberty are both associated with adverse health and psychosocial outcomes.

Objectives: We assessed the impact of provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) to mothers during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their children aged 6-18 mo, on pubertal status.

Methods: This study was a follow-up to a partially double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Assessing Children's Autonomic Nervous System Activity During Structured Tasks: A Feasibility and Reliability Study in Ghana.

The significance of physiological regulation in relation to behavioral and emotional regulation is well documented, but primarily in economically advantaged contexts. Few studies have been conducted in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the feasibility and reliability of measuring autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and behavior during challenge tasks in 30 children aged 8-10 years in Ghana during two visits, 1 week apart.

Mollusc and crustacean consumption in the first 1000 days: a scoping review.

Mollusc and crustacean consumption in the first 1000 d may improve maternal and child health by providing essential nutrients. However, in some contexts, molluscs and crustaceans have been associated with allergies and environmental contamination, potentially leading to adverse health and development outcomes. It is unclear whether the health benefits of consuming molluscs and crustaceans, collectively classified as shellfish in nutrition, are outweighed by the potential risks to pregnant women and children.

Sustained effects of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements provided during the first 1000 days on child growth at 9-11 y in a randomized controlled trial in Ghana.

Background: There is limited research on whether nutritional supplementation in the first 1000 d affects long-term child outcomes. We previously demonstrated that pre- and postnatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) increased birth weight and child length at 18 mo of age in Ghana.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of pre- and postnatal SQ-LNS on child growth and blood pressure at 9-11 y.

Higher morning cortisol is associated with lower intuitive eating in midlife women.

Background: Stress is associated with negative health outcomes in adults, including increased adiposity. Eating behaviors to cope with stress can have a negative effect on adiposity. There is limited research on positive eating behaviors, such as intuitive eating (IE), and their relationship to stress and adiposity.

Modified-Weight Healthy Eating Index-2015 Scores Are More Strongly Associated With Mortality Risk Than Standard Scores.

Background: Various diet quality scores are consistently and similarly associated with mortality risk. Emerging evidence suggests that individual diet quality components are differentially associated with mortality risk, but it is unclear whether or not modified weights reflective of relative component differences would strengthen mortality associations.

Objective: This study examined whether Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) scores with modified (vs standard) component weights are differentially associated with mortality risk.

Higher intuitive eating is associated with lower adiposity in midlife women.

Objective: Intuitive eating (IE) is consistently associated with a lower body mass index, though its relationship with adiposity, specifically abdominal adiposity, is unknown. Given that midlife women often experience increases in adiposity during midlife, our objective was to examine the association between IE and adiposity in midlife women. We also aimed to validate the factor structure of the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES) in a sample of midlife women.

Associations between Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Maternal Diet Quality.

Background: An objective of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to improve maternal diet quality, but its effectiveness remains unclear. Better understanding how WIC participation shapes women's diet quality is crucial given that maternal diet plays a critical role in determining mothers' and children's short- and long-term overall health.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the diet quality of WIC-participating women to WIC-eligible nonparticipating women and higher-income pregnant and postpartum women using a nationally representative sample.

Prenatal and postnatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements and children's social-emotional difficulties at ages 9-11 y in Ghana: follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) during early life improves growth and development. In the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements DYAD-Ghana trial, prenatal and postnatal SQ-LNS reduced social-emotional difficulties at age 5 y, with greater effects among children in less-enriched home environments.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal and postnatal SQ-LNS on children's social-emotional problems at age 9-11 y.

Dietary magnesium intakes among women of reproductive age in Ghana-A comparison of two dietary analysis programs.

Background: Despite the importance of magnesium to health and most importantly to women of reproductive age who are entering pregnancy, very few surveys have investigated the magnesium status of women of reproductive age, particularly in Africa. Additionally, the software and programs used to analyze dietary intake vary across countries in the region.

Objective: To assess the dietary magnesium intake of women of reproductive age in Ghana and to compare the estimate of magnesium intake obtained from two commonly used dietary analysis programs.

Maternal low and high hemoglobin concentrations and associations with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes: an updated global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Growing evidence suggests low and high maternal hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations may have adverse consequences for maternal and child health. There remain questions on specific Hb thresholds to define anemia and high Hb as well as how cutoffs may vary by anemia etiology and timing of assessment.

Methods: We conducted an updated systematic review (using PubMed and Cochrane Review) on low (< 110 g/L) and high (≥ 130 g/L) maternal Hb concentrations and associations with a range of maternal and infant health outcomes.

The Relationship Between Ferritin and BMI is Mediated by Inflammation Among Women in Higher-Income Countries, But Not in Most Lower-Income Countries Nor Among Young Children: A Multi-Country Analysis.

Background: In the presence of inflammation, the serum or plasma ferritin concentration ("ferritin" hereafter) transiently increases, confounding its interpretation as an iron status marker. The extent to which adiposity-related inflammation may influence ferritin interpretation is uncertain.

Objectives: We describe relationships between weight status, inflammation, and ferritin among nonpregnant women of reproductive age (WRA; 15-49 years) and preschool-age children (PSC; 6-59 months) with normal weight to overweight or obesity (OWOB) in differing geographic settings.

Increased risk of preterm delivery with high cortisol during pregnancy is modified by fetal sex: a cohort study.

Background: Previous studies show an association between maternal plasma and salivary cortisol and preterm birth but have been primarily conducted in high-income countries. It is unknown whether salivary cortisol is a risk factor for preterm birth in Ghana. Our objective was to determine whether maternal salivary cortisol during pregnancy was associated with pregnancy duration and preterm delivery in Ghana.

Evaluation of a tablet-based assessment tool for measuring cognition among children 4-6 years of age in Ghana.

Objectives: To investigate several basic psychometric properties, including construct, convergent and discriminant validity, of the tablet-based Rapid Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Regulation (RACER) among children aged 4-6 years in Ghana.

Methods: We investigated whether RACER tasks administered to children in Ghana could successfully reproduce expected patterns of performance previously found in high-income countries on similar tasks assessing inhibitory control (e.g.

Characteristics and birth outcomes of pregnant adolescents compared to older women: An analysis of individual level data from 140,000 mothers from 20 RCTs.

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of maturation when nutrient needs are high, especially among adolescents entering pregnancy. Using individual-level data from 140,000 participants, we examined socioeconomic, nutrition, and pregnancy and birth outcomes for adolescent mothers (10-19 years) compared to older mothers in low and middle-income countries.

Methods: This study was conducted between March 16, 2018 and May 25, 2021.

Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplementation Increases High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Is Associated with Changes in the HDL Glycoproteome in Children.

Prenatal plus postnatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) improved child growth at 18 months in the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements DYAD trial in Ghana. In this secondary outcome analysis, we determined whether SQ-LNS versus prenatal iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation improves the cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and alters their lipidomic, proteomic, or glycoproteomic composition in a subset of 80 children at 18 months of age. HDL CEC was higher among children in the SQ-LNS versus IFA group (20.

Association between Dietary Magnesium Intake and Glycemic Markers in Ghanaian Women of Reproductive Age: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study.

Low magnesium intake has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in several studies conducted in high-income countries. However, very few studies have been performed in Africa, where many countries have a growing rate of T2DM. We conducted a pilot cross-sectional study among 63 women in Ghana to investigate the association between magnesium intake and glycemic markers.

Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Increase Infants' Plasma Essential Fatty Acid Levels in Ghana and Malawi: A Secondary Outcome Analysis of the iLiNS-DYAD Randomized Trials.

Introduction: Small-quantity (SQ) lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) may influence infants' plasma fatty acid (FA) profiles, which could be associated with short- and long-term outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the impact of SQ-LNS consumption on infants' plasma FA profiles in Ghana and Malawi.

Methods: Ghanaian (n = 1320) and Malawian (n = 1391) women ≤20 weeks pregnant were assigned to consume 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid daily until delivery [iron and folic acid (IFA) group], multiple-micronutrient supplements (MMNs) until 6 months postpartum (MMN group), or SQ-LNSs (∼7.

Maternal Blood Pressure in Relation to Prenatal Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplementation and Adverse Birth Outcomes in a Ghanaian Cohort: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Cohort Analysis.

Background: It is unknown whether prenatal lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) affect blood pressure (BP). Associations between hypertension and birth outcomes using recently updated BP cutoffs are undetermined.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact of LNSs on maternal hypertension and associations between hypertension and birth outcomes.

The Double Burden of Malnutrition: A Systematic Review of Operational Definitions.

Background: Despite increasing research on the double burden of malnutrition (DBM; i.e., coexisting over- and undernutrition), there is no global consensus on DBM definitions.

Intraindividual double burden of overweight or obesity and micronutrient deficiencies or anemia among women of reproductive age in 17 population-based surveys.

Background: Rising prevalence of overweight/obesity (OWOB) alongside persistent micronutrient deficiencies suggests many women face concomitant OWOB and undernutrition.

Objectives: We aimed to 1) describe the prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among nonpregnant women of reproductive age, defined as intraindividual OWOB and either ≥1 micronutrient deficiency [micronutrient deficiency index (MDI) > 0; DBM-MDI] or anemia (DBM-anemia); 2) test whether the components of the DBM were independent; and 3) identify factors associated with DBM-MDI and DBM-anemia.

Methods: With data from 17 national surveys spanning low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries from the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia project (n = 419 to n = 9029), we tested independence of over- and undernutrition using the Rao-Scott chi-square test and examined predictors of the DBM and its components using logistic regression for each survey.

Intraindividual double burden of overweight and micronutrient deficiencies or anemia among preschool children.

Background: Child overweight prevalence is increasing globally, but micronutrient deficiencies persist.

Objectives: We aimed to 1) describe the prevalence and distribution of intraindividual double burden of malnutrition (DBM), defined as coexistence of overweight or obesity (OWOB) and either micronutrient deficiencies or anemia, among preschool children; 2) assess the independence of DBM components, e.g.