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Dietary Patterns and Anti-Flavivirus IgG Seroconversion in Colombian Children
Tina Arjomand1, Oscar F Herrán2, Laura C Mantilla2
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|June 20, 2023
Summary
Dietary patterns influence flavivirus infection risk. A Colombian study found that adherence to a traditional diet, rich in potatoes and sugarcane water, increased children's risk of anti-flavivirus IgG seroconversion.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Flaviviral infections like dengue and Zika pose a significant health burden in the Americas.
- The impact of diet on flaviviral infection risk, particularly in children, remains incompletely understood.
- Understanding dietary influences is crucial for public health strategies against these endemic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between adherence to specific dietary patterns and the risk of anti-flavivirus immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroconversion in children.
- To identify specific food components within dietary patterns that may influence flaviviral infection susceptibility.
- To provide insights into the role of diet in flaviviral disease epidemiology.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study followed 424 anti-flavivirus IgG seronegative children (ages 2-12) for one year during a Zika epidemic in Colombia.
- Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis from a 38-item food frequency questionnaire.
- Risk of seroconversion was assessed using Poisson regression, comparing quartiles of adherence to identified dietary patterns (animal foods, traditional, ultraprocessed, prudent).
Main Results:
- The overall seroconversion risk for anti-flavivirus IgG was 32.1% during the follow-up period.
- Higher adherence to the "traditional" dietary pattern was significantly associated with an increased risk of seroconversion (RR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.04-2.21).
- Specific food items within the traditional pattern, namely potato and sugarcane water, showed a positive association with seroconversion risk.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to a traditional dietary pattern, characterized by high consumption of potatoes and sugarcane water, is linked to a higher risk of anti-flavivirus IgG seroconversion in children.
- These findings highlight the potential role of specific dietary habits in modulating susceptibility to flaviviral infections.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and inform targeted nutritional interventions.
