Micronutrient status, food security, anaemia, infection, and physical activity as predictors of primary schoolchildren's body composition in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Stunting and overt malnutrition remain prevalent among school age children in rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire while obesity is increasing in urban areas. Associations of children's nutritional status, infection, physical activity and household characteristics with body composition were analyzed to identify what factors might be contributing to this dual burden of disease.

Methods: Longitudinal growth curve models (LGCM) evaluated associations of micronutrient status, household food security, prevalence and physical activity assessed at three time points with fat free mass and fat mass.

Identification of Enteric Pathogen Reservoirs and Transmission Pathways Associated with Short Childhood Stature in the Kolkata Indian Site of the Global Enteric Multicenter Study.

Age-stratified path analyses modeled associations between enteric pathogen reservoirs, transmission pathways and height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) to identify determinants of childhood growth in the Kolkata, India site of the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS). Models tested direct associations of potential pathogen reservoirs with HAZ at 60-day follow-up in separate moderate and severe diarrhea (MSD) case and control cohorts or indirectly when mediated by enteric infections. In the MSD cohort, rotavirus and typical EPEC (tEPEC) infections among children 0-11 months of age and ST-ETEC infections among children 12-23 months of age were associated with lower HAZ.

Randomized Trial to Improve Body Composition and Micronutrient Status Among South African Children.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) promotion combined with multimicronutrient supplementation (MMNS) among school-age children may reduce fat mass accrual and increase muscle mass through different mechanisms and so benefit child health. This study determined the efficacy of combined interventions on body composition among South African schoolchildren and determined if micronutrients mediate these effects.

Study Design: Longitudinal cluster randomized controlled trial of children followed from 2019 to 2021.

Associations between soil-transmitted helminth infections and physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular disease risk in primary schoolchildren from Gqeberha, South Africa.

Background/aim: School-aged children in low- and middle-income countries carry the highest burden of intestinal helminth infections, such as soil-transmitted helminths (STH). STH infections have been associated with negative consequences for child physical and cognitive development and wellbeing. With the epidemiological transition and rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD), studies have shown that helminth infections may influence glucose metabolism by preventing obesity.

Correlation of Cytokines with Parasitic Infections, Undernutrition and Micronutrient Deficiency among Schoolchildren in Rural Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Malnutrition and parasitic infections are often interconnected in a vicious cycle. Malnutrition can lead to changes in immune response, which may affect cytokine concentrations and potentially increase susceptibility to infections. In turn, parasitic infections can exacerbate malnutrition by impairing nutrient absorption.

Dietary diversity in primary schoolchildren of south-central Côte d'Ivoire and risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

Background: A balanced nutrition is important for children's physical and cognitive development; yet, remains a challenge in many parts of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Early detection of nutritional deficiency and metabolic syndrome in school-aged children is necessary to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in later life. This study aimed at obtaining baseline data on health, nutritional status, and metabolic markers of NCDs among primary schoolchildren in Côte d'Ivoire.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Weight Status, and Body Composition among South African Primary Schoolchildren.

Over the past decades, childhood overweight has increased in many African countries. We examined the relationship between sedentary behaviour, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body composition in South African primary schoolchildren living in peri-urban settings. MVPA was measured via 7-day accelerometry and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis in 1090 learners (49.

Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren.

Executive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) intervention would improve cognitive and academic performance.

Malnutrition, anemia, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic infections among schoolchildren in rural Tanzania.

Background: Malnutrition, anemia, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic infections continue to impact the nutritional status and health of children in lower-income countries. However, not enough data concerning this issue is available. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of nutritional indicators, anemia and micronutrient deficiency and their underlying risk factors among schoolchildren in south-eastern Tanzania.

Impact of a school-based health intervention program on body composition among South African primary schoolchildren: results from the KaziAfya cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing among African children potentially predisposing them to greater obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. This risk may be higher among growth-impaired children who may have greater fat mass. Therefore, we examined the effects of school-based physical activity (PA) promotion and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) on body composition among South African children enrolled in a longitudinal school-based randomized controlled trial.

Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Is Associated With Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among Primary Schoolchildren Living in Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Tanzania.

Physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent cardiovascular risk factors among children, but have rarely been investigated concurrently in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to compare physical activity (PA) and CRF of primary schoolchildren living in Côte d'Ivoire (CI), South Africa (ZA), and Tanzania (TZ), to test sex- and age-related differences, and to examine whether PA and CRF are associated with each other. Baseline data from an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial were used, including 499 children from CI (Taabo, 49% girls, = 8.

Associations of Growth Impairment and Body Composition among South African School-Aged Children Enrolled in the Project.

(1) Background: Early childhood malnutrition may result in increased fat mass (FM) among school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored whether South African children with shorter stature have greater overall and abdominal FM compared to normal stature children. (2) Methods: Baseline assessments of body composition and weight were determined among school-aged children enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Associations Between Household Socioeconomic Status, Car Ownership, Physical Activity, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in South African Primary Schoolchildren Living in Marginalized Communities.

Background: Little is known whether physical activity (PA)-promoting environments are equally accessible to children with divergent socioeconomic status (SES) in low-/middle-income countries. The authors, therefore, examined whether South African children from poorer versus wealthier families living in marginalized communities differed in moderate to vigorous PA and cardiorespiratory fitness. We also tested associations between family car ownership and PA/cardiorespiratory fitness.

How are academic achievement and inhibitory control associated with physical fitness, soil-transmitted helminth infections, food insecurity and stunting among South African primary schoolchildren?

Background: Cardiovascular fitness has been associated with both executive function and academic achievement in multiple cohort studies including children and adolescents. However, research is scarce among children from low- and middle-income countries. Hence, this paper focuses on South African primary schoolchildren living in marginalized areas and examines if academic achievement and inhibitory control can be explained by children's age, socioeconomic status, soil-transmitted helminth infections, food insecurity, stunting, grip strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Prevalence of Stunting and Relationship between Stunting and Associated Risk Factors with Academic Achievement and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study with South African Primary School Children.

Childhood stunting can have negative long-term consequences on cognitive development, academic achievement, and economic productivity later in life. We determined the prevalence of stunting and examined whether stunting and associated risk factors (low dietary diversity, insufficient hemoglobin, food insecurity, and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections) are associated with academic achievement and cognitive function among South African children living in marginalized communities. A cross-sectional sample of 1277 children (aged 5-12 years) was analyzed.

Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Clustered Cardiovascular Risk in South African Primary Schoolchildren from Disadvantaged Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The coexistence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors has been reported in school-aged children from the age of nine years, but most evidence stems from high-income countries. This cross-sectional study aimed at describing the cardiovascular health risk, physical activity (PA) behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels of South African primary schoolchildren, and at examining the associations between PA/CRF and a composite measure of cardiovascular risk. Cross-sectional data from 832 primary schoolchildren (grade 1-4) were analyzed.

Health care cost of overweight-related diseases in Bangladesh.

Objective: To estimate the economic burden of overweight in Bangladesh.

Design: We used data from Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2010. A prevalence-based approach was used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF) for diseases attributable to overweight.

Campylobacter infection and household factors are associated with childhood growth in urban Bangladesh: An analysis of the MAL-ED study.

The dual burden of enteric infection and childhood malnutrition continues to be a global health concern and a leading cause of morbidity and death among children. Campylobacter infection, in particular, is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. We examined longitudinal data to evaluate the trajectories of change in child growth, and to identify associations with Campylobacter infection and household factors.

Dietary Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Animal Protein Intake and Their Association to the Linear Growth Trajectory of Children from Birth to 24 Months of Age: Results From MAL-ED Birth Cohort Study Conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: Evidence suggests lack of understanding of the association of specific nutrients with different time points of linear growth trajectory.

Objective: We investigated the role of dietary macro- and micronutrients on length-for-age z (LAZ) score trajectory of children across first 24 months of their life.

Methods: The MAL-ED Bangladesh birth cohort study recruited 265 healthy newborn children after birth.

Effects of school-based physical activity and multi-micronutrient supplementation intervention on growth, health and well-being of schoolchildren in three African countries: the KaziAfya cluster randomised controlled trial protocol with a 2 × 2 factorial design.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, infectious diseases remain a key public health issue. Additionally, non-communicable diseases are a rapidly growing public health problem that impose a considerable burden on population health. One way to address this dual disease burden, is to incorporate (lifestyle) health promotion measures within the education sector.

Dietary patterns, dietary biomarkers, and kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a repeated-measure study in Taiwan.

Background And Objectives: Western dietary patterns have been linked with kidney disease. This study investigated the association between Chinese dietary patterns and kidney disease in a Taiwanese population with type 2 diabetes and evaluated dietary fatty acid patterns, a kidney-related dietary biomarker.

Methods And Study Design: We recruited 838 patients with type 2 diabetes and used their dietary and renal data obtained from three repeated measures in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among 6-24-month-old underweight and normal-weight children living in an urban slum of Bangladesh.

Objective: We quantified the prevalence of vitamin D status in 6-24-month-old underweight and normal-weight children and identified the socio-economic and dietary predictors for status.

Design: Cross-sectional, baseline data from a nutritional intervention study were analysed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being vitamin D deficient or insufficient with the reference being vitamin D sufficient.

Double burden of underweight and overweight among Bangladeshi adults differs between men and women: evidence from a nationally representative survey.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of underweight and overweight among Bangladeshi adults and to determine if the double burden of underweight and overweight differs by gender and other socio-economic characteristics of individuals.

Design: We used data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Multinominal logistic regression was used to examine associations between the different nutritional statuses of individuals and related determinants.

Obesity, weight change, and chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study in Taiwan.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity and weight changes in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: At baseline (2003-05), 1187 diabetic patients aged 30-70 years were recruited to the study, with follow-up surveys completed in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Chronic kidney disease was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min per 1.