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Immunostimulation and growth faltering in UK infants
C Panter-Brick1, P G Lunn, R Goto
1Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, Durham, UK. Catherine.Panter-Brick@durham.ac.uk
Summary
Chronic immunostimulation and poor iron status may contribute to growth faltering in UK infants. These factors showed weak associations with growth metrics, differing from findings in The Gambia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition and Growth
- Immunology and Child Health
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- Growth faltering is a concern in disadvantaged children.
- Chronic immunostimulation is a known factor in growth faltering in developing countries.
- Limited data exists on immunostimulation's role in growth faltering in developed nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if chronic immunostimulation explains growth faltering in UK infants.
- To compare findings with similar studies conducted in The Gambia.
- To assess the relationship between immunostimulation markers, iron status, and growth parameters.
Main Methods:
- 216 infants (10-21 months) in the UK participated.
- Blood samples analyzed for albumin (Alb), alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations.
- Hemoglobin levels, height, weight, and birth weight were measured to calculate z-scores and a thrive index.
Main Results:
- Age-corrected plasma IgG concentration showed a negative association with height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores (P=0.042, P=0.038).
- Hemoglobin levels positively correlated with height-for-age, weight-for-age z-scores, and the thrive index (P=0.026, P=0.014, P=0.007).
- Relationships between markers and growth were weaker than anticipated and differed from Gambian study findings.
Conclusions:
- Persistent immunostimulation or poor iron status may partially explain growth variations in UK infants.
- The observed relationships were weak, indicating other factors likely influence growth.
- Immunostimulation marker levels and their association with growth in UK infants differ significantly from those in The Gambia.
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