Plasma lipids and growth faltering: A longitudinal cohort study in rural Gambian children

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pediatrics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Child growth faltering is a major global health issue, particularly in low-income settings.
• It results from complex interactions involving poor diet, infections, and immunopathology.
• Plasma lipidome alterations are implicated in metabolic and endocrine dysfunction contributing to growth faltering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the progression of the plasma lipidome in Gambian children during the first two years of life.
• To assess the association between plasma lipidome changes and growth faltering (stunting, wasting, underweight).
• To investigate temporal associations among different lipid clusters and their predictive value for growth outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 409 Gambian children from birth to two years.
• Plasma lipidome profiling.
• Panel vector autoregression method to analyze dynamic associations and predict growth outcomes.

Main Results:

• Measures of stunting, wasting, and underweight were dynamically interconnected.
• Lipid groups rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and phosphatidylcholines consistently predicted future growth outcomes.
• Linear growth showed dynamic associations with most lipids, suggesting higher nutritional demands for height compared to weight in growth-restricted children.

Conclusions:

• Plasma lipid profiles, particularly PUFAs and choline-containing lipids, are critical indicators and potential targets for combating child growth faltering.
• Early life dietary interventions focusing on PUFAs and choline are essential for improving linear growth and overall development in vulnerable populations.
• Understanding lipidome dynamics offers insights into the metabolic underpinnings of growth faltering.