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Promising Biomarkers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction: A Prospective Cohort study in Pakistani Children
Najeeha Talat Iqbal1,2, Kamran Sadiq1, Sana Syed1,3
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Scientific Reports
|February 16, 2018
Summary
Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) in children is linked to growth faltering. Biomarkers indicate EED may directly cause stunting, independent of systemic inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) is a chronic gut inflammation syndrome prevalent in developing countries.
- EED is associated with childhood stunting and reduced vaccine efficacy.
- Growth faltering is a clinical proxy for EED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate key biomarkers of EED.
- To assess the association between EED biomarkers and growth faltering in infants.
- To explore the relationship between gut and systemic inflammation markers and growth outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 380 newborns followed to 18 months.
- Monthly anthropometry measurements.
- Assessment of gut and systemic inflammation biomarkers at 6 and 9 months using linear mixed-effects models.
Main Results:
- Fecal myeloperoxidase and serum GLP-2 at 6 months were associated with lower LAZ scores.
- Ferritin, CRP, and AGP at 6 and 9 months showed significant negative associations with LAZ scores.
- Gut and systemic biomarkers correlated negatively with IGF-1, with weak inter-correlations.
Conclusions:
- EED biomarkers are associated with growth faltering in infants.
- EED may directly contribute to stunting, not solely through systemic inflammation.
- Further research into EED pathogenesis and intervention is warranted.
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