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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 954 |
| Journal | Nutrients |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Fish
- Ghana
- Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA)
- Omega-3 index
- Stunting
- Undernutrition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- Nutrition and Dietetics
Cite this
Association of whole blood fatty acids and growth in southern ghanaian children 2–6 years of age. / Adjepong, Mary; Yakah, William; Harris, William; Colecraft, Esi; Marquis, Grace S.; Fenton, Jenifer I.
In: Nutrients, Vol. 10, No. 8, 954, 01.08.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Association of whole blood fatty acids and growth in southern ghanaian children 2–6 years of age
AU - Adjepong, Mary
AU - Yakah, William
AU - Harris, William
AU - Colecraft, Esi
AU - Marquis, Grace S.
AU - Fenton, Jenifer I.
PY - 2018/8/1
Y1 - 2018/8/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Fish
KW - Ghana
KW - Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA)
KW - Omega-3 index
KW - Stunting
KW - Undernutrition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050821530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85050821530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu10080954
DO - 10.3390/nu10080954
M3 - Article
C2 - 30042359
AN - SCOPUS:85050821530
VL - 10
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
SN - 2072-6643
IS - 8
M1 - 954
ER -