The interactions between genetics and early childhood nutrition influence adult cardiometabolic risk factors

It is well established that genetics, environment, and interplay between them play a crucial role in adult disease. We aimed to evaluate the role of genetics, early life nutrition, and the interaction between them, on optimal adult health. As part of a large international consortium (n ~ 154,000), we identified 60 SNPs associated with both birthweight and adult disease. Utilising the Raine Study, we developed a birthweight polygenic score (BW-PGS) based on the 60 SNPs and examined relationships between BW-PGS and adulthood cardiovascular risk factors, specifically evaluating interactions with early life nutrition. Healthy nutrition was beneficial for all individuals; longer duration of any breastfeeding was particularly associated with lower BMI and lower Systolic Blood Pressure in those with higher BW-PGS. Optimal breastfeeding offers the greatest benefit to reduce adult obesity and hypertension in those genetically predisposed to high birthweight. This provides an example of how precision medicine in early life can improve adult health.

Pelatihan Pemanfaatan Lahan Terbatas Model Hidroponik untuk Penanaman Sayuran dalam Rangka Peningkatan Gizi Anak Usia Dini di Era Covid-19

Selama masa pandemic Covid-19 permasalahan yang dialami oleh warga kampung Petoran RT 03 RW 08 Jebres Surakarta adalah meningkatnya harga kebutuhan pokok dan sayuran serta ketakutan akan penyebaran Covid-19. Apabila kebutuhan pokok dan sayur tidak terpenuhi akan berdampak pada pemenuhan gizi keluarga terutama adalah gizi anak usia dini. Dari hal itu, munculah inisiatif mengadakan kegiatan pelatihan dalam memanfaatkan lahan terbatas seperti pekarangan rumah sebagai tempat untuk memproduksi sayuran, dan biji-bijian yang diperlukan guna pemenuhan gizi sembang untuk anak dan seluruh anggota keluarga di Kampung Petoran RT03 RW 08. Metode hidroponik yaitu budidaya tanaman dengan memanfaatkan air dan tanpa tanah dipilih dalam pengabdian ini yang dilaksanakan melalui sosialisasi terkait : (1) metode bercocok tanam hidroponik, (2) pelatihan bercocok tanam sistem hidroponik dilahan terbatas dengan barang bekas, (3) pemberian fasilitas bibit sayuran untuk ditanam. Hasil dari kegiatan sosialisasi yang dilaksanakan oleh mahasiswa kuliah kerja nyata univesitas sebelas maret berupa peningkatan pengetahuan dan keterampilan terkait bertanam dengan lahan terbatas yaitu dengan sistem hidroponik, serta peningkatan gizi anak usia dini melalui hasil kegiatan bertanam. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the problems experienced by residents of the Petoran RT 03 RW 08 Jebres Surakarta village were the increasing prices of necessities and vegetables and the fear of the spread of Covid-19. If basic needs and vegetables are not met, it will impact family nutrition, especially early childhood nutrition. From this, the initiative emerged to hold training activities in utilizing limited land such as a house yard to produce vegetables and seeds needed to fulfil balanced nutrition for children and all family members in Kampung Petoran RT03 RW 08. The hydroponic method in plant cultivation. By utilizing water and without land selected in this service, which is carried out through socialization related to (1) hydroponic farming methods, (2) training in hydroponic cultivation in limited land with used goods, (3) providing facilities for vegetable seeds for planting. The results of the socialization activities carried out by students of real work lectures at 11 March universities were in the form of increased knowledge and skills related to farming with limited land, namely the hydroponic system, and improving early childhood nutrition through the results of farming activities.

Principles of complementary food introduction in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory skin disorders. In most patients, AD is a starting point for developing other atopic diseases, e.g., food allergy, allergic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic rhinitis, and asthma known under the umbrella of "atopic march". In addition to genetic predisposition, various environmental factors are essential for the development of this dermatosis. In young children, food is the most relevant factor. This paper discusses principles of the selection of complementary food, techniques, and terms of its introduction. Prolonging of breastfeeding, the adequate introduction of complementary food, and personified nutrition program prevent the atopic march. The authors highlight that there is no special diet for atopic dermatitis. Meanwhile, food should be safe, low allergy, and balanced to provide a child with essential macro-and micronutrients. In addition, the paper addresses the utility and validity of an elimination diet which should be prescribed only in established food sensitization and used under the control o f a specialist. KEYWORDS: atopic dermatitis, atopic march, infancy, early childhood, nutrition, complementary foods, prevention. FOR CITATION: Botkina A.S., Dubrovskaya M.I. Principles of complementary food introduction in atopic dermatitis. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(6):421–426 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-6-421-426.

Home packed food for nursery children in United Arab Emirates provides suboptimal quality

BACKGROUND: Early childhood nutrition is associated with health outcomes later in life, hence developing health promoting habits from an early age is imperative. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional adequacy of home-packed food brought to the nurseries by attending children. METHODS: In a cross sectional study conducted in 7 nurseries in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 315 food-boxes were assessed through detailed food observations at the nurseries prior to mealtimes. The food content was evaluated using the Alberta Guidelines for nursery food, Canada. RESULTS: Most food boxes contained refined grains (77.5%), fruits (74.6%), sweet/full fat dairy products (77.5%), discretionary-calorie-food-items (70.6%). Emirati children were offered sweetened drinks significantly more (p < 0.001). Non-dairy protein sources, vegetables, low-fat-natural-dairy products were offered to 45.4%, 44.1% and 3.9% of children, respectively. Overall, 70.2% of the food-boxes contained not-recommended food and 63.1% of the children were served a very poor food combination. CONCLUSIONS: Despite frequent inclusion of recommended food, many food boxes were nutritionally inadequate due to their low content of whole grains, low-fat dairy products, vegetables and animal proteins and high content of sweet food and drinks. The inadequate dietary patterns necessitate developing nutrition guidelines for nurseries in Abu Dhabi.

Childcare Food Provision Recommendations Vary across Australia: Jurisdictional Comparison and Nutrition Expert Perspectives

Early childhood is a critical stage for nutrition promotion, and childcare settings have the potential for wide-reaching impact on food intake. There are currently no Australian national guidelines for childcare food provision, and the comparability of existing guidelines across jurisdictions is unknown. This project aimed to map and compare childcare food provision guidelines and to explore perspectives amongst early childhood nutrition experts for alignment of jurisdictional childcare food provision guidelines with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG). A desktop review was conducted and formed the basis of an online survey. A national convenience sample of childhood nutrition experts was surveyed. Existing guideline recommendations for food group serving quantities were similar across jurisdictions but contained many minor differences. Of the 49 survey respondents, most (84–100%) agreed with aligning food group provision recommendations to provide at least 50% of the recommended ADG serves for children. Most (94%) agreed that discretionary foods should be offered less than once per month or never. Jurisdictional childcare food provision guidelines do not currently align, raising challenges for national accreditation and the provision of support and resources for services across jurisdictions. Childhood nutrition experts support national alignment of food provision guidelines with the ADG.

The Association between Parental Migration and Early Childhood Nutrition of Left-behind Children in Rural China

Background: More than one-third of children under 3 years old are left behind at home due to parental migration in rural China, and we know very little about early childhood nutrition of left-behind children (LBC) because of the dearth of research. This study examined the association between parental migration and early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Methods: We used repeated cross-sectional data of rural children aged 6–35 months who participated in two surveys in six counties of northern and southern China in 2013 and 2016 respectively. The length, weight, and hemoglobin concentration were measured by trained health‑care workers blinded to parental migration status. Stunting, underweight, wasting, and anemia were identified with the standards recommended by WHO. Generalized linear regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to explore the association between parental migration and these nutritional outcomes at each time point. Results: 2,336 and 2,210 children aged 6–35 months were enrolled in 2013 and 2016, respectively. The results show a reduction of the risks of stunting, underweight, and wasting from 2013 (16.4%, 8.5%, and 3.5%, respectively) to 2016 (12.1%, 4.0%, and 1.5%, respectively) but highlight a constantly and alarmingly high risk of anemia among these children (44.8% in 2013 and 43.8% in 2016). Children with migrant fathers performed as well as or better than those with non-migrants on these indicators. Children with migrant parents performed slightly worse in 2013, but equal or slightly superior in 2016 on these indicators compared with children with non-migrants and migrant fathers. Children aged 6–17 months with migrant parents had a significantly lower risk of anemia than those living with their mothers or with both parents (43.1% vs . 63.6% and 61.5 in 2013, and 42.5 vs . 60.1% and 66.2% in 2016), even after controlling for children’s sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusions: Parental migration may be not detrimental and even beneficial to early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Continued nutritional support is needed for all rural children, especially interventions for preventing micronutrient deficiency. Programs for LBC are recommended to continue to focus on nutrition but pay more attention to other important health issues.

The Association between Parental Migration and Early Childhood Nutrition of Left-behind Children in Rural China

Background: More than one-third of children under 3 years old are left behind at home due to parental migration in rural China, and we know very little about early childhood nutrition of left-behind children (LBC) because of the dearth of research. This study examined the association between parental migration and early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China.Methods: We used repeated cross-sectional data of rural children aged 6–35 months who participated in two surveys in six counties of northern and southern China in 2013 and 2016 respectively. The length, weight, and hemoglobin concentration were measured by trained health‑care workers blinded to parental migration status. Stunting, underweight, wasting, and anemia were identified with the standards recommended by WHO. Generalized linear regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to explore the association between parental migration and these nutritional outcomes at each time point.Results: 2,336 and 2,210 children aged 6–35 months were enrolled in 2013 and 2016, respectively. The results show a reduction of the risks of stunting, underweight, and wasting from 2013 (16.4%, 8.5%, and 3.5%, respectively) to 2016 (12.1%, 4.0%, and 1.5%, respectively) but highlight a constantly and alarmingly high risk of anemia among these children (44.8% in 2013 and 43.8% in 2016). Children with migrant fathers performed as well as or better than those with non-migrants on these indicators. Children with migrant parents performed slightly worse in 2013, but equal or slightly superior in 2016 on these indicators compared with children with non-migrants and migrant fathers. Children aged 6–17 months with migrant parents had a significantly lower risk of anemia than those living with their mothers or with both parents (43.1% vs. 63.6% and 61.5 in 2013, and 42.5 vs. 60.1% and 66.2% in 2016), even after controlling for children’s sociodemographic characteristics.Conclusions: Parental migration may be not detrimental and even beneficial to early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Continued nutritional support is needed for all rural children, especially interventions for preventing micronutrient deficiency. Programs for LBC are recommended to continue to focus on nutrition but pay more attention to other important health issues.