Acceptability of Microbiota-Directed Complementary Foods in Treating Indian Children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition: eACT-MAM Pre-Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: In India, currently, there are no standard guidelines for the management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Previous research in Bangladesh has shown that children with MAM have impaired gut microbiota development, and microbiota-directed complementary foods (MDCF) can potentially repair their gut microbiota.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the acceptability and safety of supplementing shelf-stable formulation of MDCF in Indian children with MAM as compared with a locally prepared ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) in 3 geographically distinct Indian populations and to establish and pilot systems of intervention delivery, collection, transport, and storage of stool samples using stringent protocols.

Epidemiology of overweight in under-five children in India: insights from National Family Health Survey.

Childhood overweight is not only an immediate health concern due to its implications but also significantly increases the risk of persistent obesity and consequently CVD in the future, posing a serious threat to public health. The objective of this study was to examine the trends and associated factors of childhood overweight in India, using nationally representative data from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). For the primary analysis, we used data from 199 375 children aged 0-59 months from fifth round of the NFHS (NFHS-5).

Prevalence of Wasting and its Associated Factors among Children Under 5 Years of Age in India: Findings from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey.

Background: The burden of wasting among under five children in India, has not reduced in the last decade.

Objectives: We used child-level data from the latest nationally representative Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey (CNNS) to estimate the prevalence of wasting at the national and state level in India.

Methods: We explored the association of wasting with maternal, child and household factors using multivariable logistic regression for the age group of 0-5, 6-23 and 24-59 months.

Impact of an integrated health, nutrition, and early child stimulation and responsive care intervention package delivered to preterm or term small for gestational age babies during infancy on growth and neurodevelopment: study protocol of an individually randomized controlled trial in India (Small Babies Trial).

Background: Preterm and term small for gestational age (SGA) babies are at high risk of experiencing malnutrition and impaired neurodevelopment. Standalone interventions have modest and sometimes inconsistent effects on growth and neurodevelopment in these babies. For greater impact, intervention may be needed in multiple domains-health, nutrition, and psychosocial care and support.

Linear growth beyond 24 months and child neurodevelopment in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To synthesize available evidence on the association between change in linear growth (height for age z score, HAZ) beyond the first two years of life with later child neurodevelopment outcomes in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE for cohort studies on the association between change in HAZ after age two and neurodevelopment outcomes in middle or late childhood. Data extraction was done independently by two reviewers.

Neonatal mortality risk of vulnerable newborns by fine stratum of gestational age and birthweight for 230 679 live births in nine low- and middle-income countries, 2000-2017.

Objective: To describe the mortality risks by fine strata of gestational age and birthweight among 230 679 live births in nine low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017.

Design: Descriptive multi-country secondary data analysis.

Setting: Nine LMICs in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia, and Latin America.

Child Neurodevelopment After Multidomain Interventions From Preconception Through Early Childhood: The WINGS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Multidomain interventions in pregnancy and early childhood have improved child neurodevelopment, but little is known about the effects of additional preconception interventions.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multifaceted approach including health; nutrition; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and psychosocial support interventions delivered during the preconception period and/or during pregnancy and early childhood on child neurodevelopment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this randomized trial involving low- and middle-income neighborhoods in Delhi, India, 13 500 participants were assigned to preconception interventions or routine care for the primary outcome of preterm births and childhood growth.

Association of fetal ultrasound anthropometric parameters with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months of age.

Background: There is a paucity of studies which have examined associations between ultrasound based fetal anthropometric parameters and neurodevelopment in all infants. We examined the association between ultrasound based fetal anthropometric parameters and neurodevelopment in all infants through a secondary analysis of data collected in a large community based randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A total of 1465 mother-child dyads were included.

Burden, risk factors and outcomes associated with adequately treated hypothyroidism in a population-based cohort of pregnant women from North India.

Hypothyroidism is the commonest endocrine disorder of pregnancy, with known adverse feto-maternal outcomes. There is limited data on population-based prevalence, risk factors and outcomes associated with treatment of hypothyroidism in early pregnancy. We conducted analysis on data from an urban and peri-urban low to mid socioeconomic population-based cohort of pregnant women in North Delhi, India to ascertain the burden, risk factors and impact of treatment, on adverse pregnancy outcomes- low birth weight, prematurity, small for gestational age and stillbirth.

Breastfeeding practices based on the gestational age and weight at birth in the first six months of life in a population-based cohort of infants from North India.

Background: Short and long term benefits of early Initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first six months of life are well established and recommended globally. However, reliable estimates of breastfeeding practices and impact of breastfeeding counselling interventions according to gestational age and weight at birth are not available in low and middle income countries.

Objective: To assess the impact of breastfeeding counselling on EIBF and EBF during the first 6 months of life according to gestational age and weight at birth.

Neonatal mortality risk of vulnerable newborns: A descriptive analysis of subnational, population-based birth cohorts for 238 203 live births in low- and middle-income settings from 2000 to 2017.

Objective: We aimed to understand the mortality risks of vulnerable newborns (defined as preterm and/or born weighing smaller or larger compared to a standard population), in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design: Descriptive multi-country, secondary analysis of individual-level study data of babies born since 2000.

Setting: Sixteen subnational, population-based studies from nine LMICs in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia, and Latin America.

Daily Folic Acid and/or Vitamin B12 Supplementation Between 6 and 30 Months of Age and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers After 6-7 Years: A Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folate are associated with elevated concentrations of metabolic markers related to CVDs.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of supplementation of vitamin B12 with or without folic acid for 6 mo in early childhood on cardiometabolic risk markers after 6-7 y.

Methods: This is a follow-up study of a 2 × 2 factorial, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid supplementation in 6-30-mo-old children.

Maternal nutritional status and milk volume and composition in India: an observational study.

Background: Human milk provides essential nutrition for infants, and its benefits are well established. We lack data on the influence of maternal nutritional status on milk volume and composition in low-middle income countries.

Objective: We aimed to 1) assess lactation performance (human milk volume, macronutrient composition, and infant energy intake) in Indian females and 2) examine the associations between maternal anthropometry (BMI, percentage body fat) and lactation performance.

Anthropometric criteria for best-identifying children at high risk of mortality: a pooled analysis of twelve cohorts.

Objective: To understand which anthropometric diagnostic criteria best discriminate higher from lower risk of death in children and explore programme implications.

Design: A multiple cohort individual data meta-analysis of mortality risk (within 6 months of measurement) by anthropometric case definitions. Sensitivity, specificity, informedness and inclusivity in predicting mortality, face validity and compatibility with current standards and practice were assessed and operational consequences were modelled.

Prognostic value of different anthropometric indices over different measurement intervals to predict mortality in 6-59-month-old children.

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), weight-for-height -score (WHZ) and weight-for-age -score (WAZ) for predicting death over periods of 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up in children.

Design: Pooled analysis of twelve prospective studies examining survival after anthropometric assessment. Sensitivity and false-positive ratios to predict death within 1, 3 and 6 months were compared for three individual anthropometric indices and their combinations.

Milk-cereal mix supplementation during infancy and impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 and 24 months of age: a randomised controlled trial in India.

Inadequate protein intake and lack of micronutrients may affect neurodevelopment in infants. This randomised controlled trial was conducted to measure the effect of two milk-cereal mixes with modest and high amounts of protein and enriched with multiple micronutrients, given between 6 and 12 months, on cognitive, language, motor and behavioural scores at 12 and 24 months of age, compared with no-supplementation. The two supplements were also compared with each other.

Effect of kangaroo mother care initiated in community settings on financial risk protection of low-income households: a randomised controlled trial in Haryana, India.

Introduction: Many families in low-income and middle-income countries have high out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) for healthcare, and some face impoverishment. We aimed to assess the effect of Kangaroo Mother Care initiated in community setting (ciKMC) on financial risk protection estimated by healthcare OOPE, catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment due to healthcare seeking for low birthweight infants, using a randomised controlled trial design.

Methods: We included 4475 low birthweight infants randomised to a ciKMC (2491 infants) and a control (1984 infants) arm, in a large trial conducted between 2017 and 2018 in Haryana, India.

Impact of a package of health, nutrition, psychosocial support, and WaSH interventions delivered during preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood periods on birth outcomes and on linear growth at 24 months of age: factorial, individually randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the effect of integrated and concurrent delivery of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), and psychosocial care interventions during the preconception period alone, during pregnancy and early childhood, and throughout preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood on birth outcomes and linear growth at 24 months of age compared with routine care.

Design: Individually randomised factorial trial.

Setting: Low and middle income neighbourhoods of Delhi, India.

Early child stimulation, linear growth and neurodevelopment in low birth weight infants.

Background: Children with low birth weight (LBW) are at risk of linear growth faltering and developmental deficits. Evidence suggests that early child stimulation and care reflected as responsive caregiving and opportunities for learning can promote development. The current analysis aimed to measure the extent to which linear growth and early child stimulation modify each other's association with neurodevelopmental outcomes among LBW infants.

Anthropometric deficits and the associated risk of death by age and sex in children aged 6-59 months: A meta-analysis.

Risk of death from undernutrition is thought to be higher in younger than in older children, but evidence is mixed. Research also demonstrates sex differences whereby boys have a higher prevalence of undernutrition than girls. This analysis described mortality risk associated with anthropometric deficits (wasting, underweight and stunting) in children 6-59 months by age and sex.