@article{30e7fda677c6467a8428ba88c372e3e0,
title = "Association of whole blood fatty acids and growth in southern ghanaian children 2–6 years of age",
abstract = "In Ghana, stunting rates in children below 5 years of age vary regionally. Dietary fatty acids (FAs) are crucial for linear growth. The objective of this study was to determine the association between blood FAs and growth parameters in southern Ghanaian children 2–6 years of age. A drop of blood was collected on an antioxidant treated card and analyzed for FA composition. Weight and height were measured and z-scores calculated. Relationships between FAs and growth were analyzed by linear regressions and factor analysis. Of the 209 subjects, 22% were stunted and 10.6% were essential FA deficient (triene/tetraene ratio > 0.02). Essential FA did not differ between stunted and non-stunted children and was not associated with height-for-age z-score or weight-for-age z-score. Similarly, no relationships between other blood fatty acids and growth parameters were observed in this population. However, when blood fatty acid levels in these children were compared to previously reported values from northern Ghana, the analysis showed that blood omega-3 FA levels were significantly higher and omega-6 FA levels lower in the southern Ghanaian children (p < 0.001). Fish and seafood consumption in this southern cohort was high and could account for the lower stunting rates observed in these children compared to other regions.",
keywords = "Fish, Ghana, Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), Omega-3 index, Stunting, Undernutrition",
author = "Mary Adjepong and William Yakah and Harris, {William S.} and Esi Colecraft and Marquis, {Grace S.} and Fenton, {Jenifer I.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—funded Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural and Research Development (BHEARD) (CGA#BFS-G-11-00002). Mary Adjepong is a fellow of the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program funded by USAID. Support for this research was provided in part by the Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP) (CGA#147309) through a grant to the University of California-Davis by USAID. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID. BHEARD and Borlaug LEAP had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article. The Government of Canada provided funding that supported the survey data collection through a grant to GSM from Global Affairs Canada (Grant No. S065653). Funding Information: Funding: This work was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—funded Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural and Research Development (BHEARD) (CGA#BFS-G-11-00002). Mary Adjepong is a fellow of the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program funded by USAID. Support for this research was provided in part by the Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP) (CGA#147309) through a grant to the University of California-Davis by USAID. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID. BHEARD and Borlaug LEAP had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article. The Government of Canada provided funding that supported the survey data collection through a grant to GSM from Global Affairs Canada (Grant No. S065653)",
year = "2018",
month = aug,
doi = "10.3390/nu10080954",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "10",
journal = "Nutrients",
issn = "2072-6643",
publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",
number = "8",
}