Lack of head sparing following third-trimester caloric restriction among Tanzanian Maasai.

The reduction of food intake during pregnancy is part of many cultural and religious traditions around the world. The impact of such practices on fetal growth and development are poorly understood. Here, we examined the patterns of diet intake among Maasai pregnant women and assessed their effect on newborn morphometrics.

Region-specific changes in brain size and cell composition under chronic nutrient restriction.

Nutrition is one of the most influential environmental factors affecting the development of different tissues and organs. It is suggested that under nutrient restriction the growth of the brain is spared as a result of the differential allocation of resources from other organs. However, it is not clear whether this sparing occurs brain-wide.

Facial morphometrics of children with non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Tanzania.

Background: Orofacial clefts (cleft lip/palate; CL/P) are among the most common congenital anomalies, with prevalence that varies among different ethnic groups. Craniofacial shape differences between individuals with CL/P and healthy controls have been widely reported in non-African populations. Knowledge of craniofacial shape among individuals with non-syndromic CL/P in African populations will provide further understanding of the ethnic and phenotypic variation present in non-syndromic orofacial clefts.