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Correlates of Body Composition in Children with Stunting: A Cross-sectional Study in Uganda

Jack I Lewis1, Joseph Mbabazi2, Rolland Mutumba2

  • 1Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Journal of Nutrition
|August 7, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with stunting show altered body composition, with inflammation linked to poorer growth and increased fatness. Longer breastfeeding may support lean growth, but more research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition and Growth
  • Body Composition Analysis
  • Child Health and Development

Background:

  • Body composition (BC) development can be impaired in children with stunting, potentially increasing future risks of obesity and metabolic issues.
  • Few studies have explored the factors associated with BC in stunted children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate nutritional status, infection, inflammation, and breastfeeding behaviors as correlates of body composition in stunted children.
  • To identify factors influencing fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to estimate BC in 750 Ugandan children (aged 1-5 years) with height-for-age z-scores <-2.
  • Multiple linear regression analysis identified correlates of FM, FFM, FM index (FMI), and FFM index (FFMI), adjusted for gender and age, comparing results with UK references.

Main Results:

  • Stunted children had lower FMI and FFMI z-scores compared to UK references.
  • Elevated inflammation markers (α1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein) were associated with reduced linear growth and FFM but increased FMI.
  • Malaria infection was linked to shorter height and greater FMI, while anemia was associated with lower FFM.
  • Longer breastfeeding duration correlated positively with FFM in proportion to height.

Conclusions:

  • Children with stunting exhibit deficits in FM and FFM relative to their height.
  • Systemic inflammation is a potential intervention target, inversely affecting linear growth and FFM while positively impacting fatness.
  • Extended breastfeeding may benefit lean growth, though micronutrient effects require further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
anemiabioelectrical impedance analysisbody compositionfat massfat mass indexfat-free massfat-free mass indexinflammationmalariastunting

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