Effects of egg as an early complementary food on growth of 6- to 9-month-old infants: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of daily egg consumption for six months on linear growth (primary outcome), weight-for-age, weight-for-length, mid-upper arm circumference-for-age, head circumference-for-age Z-scores, gross motor milestones development, anaemia and iron status (secondary outcomes) in a low socioeconomic community. PARTICIPANTS: Infants aged 6 to 9 months living in the peri-urban Jouberton area, in the Matlosana Municipality, South Africa. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial with a parallel design was implemented. Eligible infants were randomly allocated to the intervention (n 250) receiving one egg/day and the control group (n 250) receiving no intervention. The participants were visited weekly to monitor morbidity and gross motor development, with information on adherence collected for the intervention group. Trained assessors took anthropometric measurements, and a blood sample was collected to assess anaemia and iron status. There was blinding of the anthropometric assessors to the groups during measurements and the statistician during the analysis. RESULTS: Baseline prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting, overweight and anaemia was 23·8 %, 9·8 %, 1·2 %, 13·8 % and 29·2 %, respectively, and did not differ between groups. Overall, 230 and 216 participants in the intervention and control groups completed the study, respectively. There was no intervention effect on length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length Z-scores, gross motor milestone development, anaemia and iron status. CONCLUSIONS: Daily egg intake did not affect linear growth, underweight, wasting, motor milestones development, anaemia and iron status. Other interventions are necessary to understand the effect of animal-source food intake on children's growth and development. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT05168085).

Anthropometric nutritional status of children (0-18 years) in South Africa 1997-2022: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature on the anthropometric nutritional status of South African infants and children, 0-18 years old and to report on trends of changes in nutritional status over the period 1997-2022. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Review of the available literature on the anthropometric nutritional status of South African infants and children, 0-18 years old, over the period 1997-2022. PARTICIPANTS: South African infants and children, 0-18 years old. RESULTS: Only quantitative data from ninety-five publications that described the nutritional status in terms of anthropometry were included. Most recent studies applied the WHO 2006 and 2007 definitions for malnutrition among children 0-5 years old and 5-19 years old, respectively. Meta-analysis of all prevalence data shows the highest stunting prevalence of 25·1 % among infants and preschool children, compared to 11·3 % among primary school-age children and 9·6 % among adolescents. Furthermore, the overweight and obesity prevalence was similar among children younger than 6 years and adolescents (19 %), compared to 12·5 % among primary school-age children. In national surveys, adolescent overweight prevalence increased from 16·9 % in 2002 to 23·1 % in 2011. Meta-regression analysis shows a decrease in stunting among children 6-18 years old and an increase in combined overweight and obesity in the 10-19 years age group. CONCLUSION: The double burden of malnutrition remains evident in South Africa with stunting and overweight/obesity the most prevalent forms of malnutrition among children.

Association between maternal postpartum depressive symptoms, socioeconomic factors, and birth outcomes with infant growth in South Africa.

This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal postpartum depressive symptoms, household demographic, socioeconomic, and infant characteristics with infant physical growth, and how these factors correlate to determine latent factors. This study was based on the baseline data of a 6-month randomised controlled trial aimed at providing an egg a day to infants aged 6 to 9-months from a low socioeconomic community in South Africa. Information collected on household demographic, socioeconomic, and infant characteristics was by face-to-face structured interviews, and trained assessors took anthropometric measurements. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. The analysis was based on 428 mother-infant pairs. Total EPDS score and its subscales score were not associated with stunting or underweight risk. However, a three- to four-fold increased risk of stunting and underweight, respectively was observed for premature birth. Low birthweight was associated with an estimated six-fold increased risk of underweight and stunting. Being female was associated with about 50% reduced risk of stunting and underweight. In conclusion, more robust studies are needed to substantiate these findings, with more awareness creation on the consequences of LBW and prematurity on the physical growth of infants from resource-limited settings.

Potential of Egg as Complementary Food to Improve Nutrient Intake and Dietary Diversity.

The original aim was to determine the effect of egg consumption on infant growth in a low socioeconomic community in South Africa in a randomized controlled trial. Enrolment was, however, prematurely stopped due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. The resultant small sample (egg group n = 70; control group n = 85) was followed up to assess the feasibility of egg consumption for eight months in terms of dietary intake, egg usage and perceived effects of lockdown on child feeding. Egg consumption remained low in the control group, <10% consumed egg ≥4 days/week at the follow-up points. In the egg group, egg was frequently consumed at midpoint (daily 87.1%, 4−6 days 8.1%) and endpoint (daily 53.1%, 4−6 days 21.9%). At endpoint, dietary intake of cholesterol and vitamin D was higher, and intake of niacin and vitamin B6 lower in the egg group compared to the control group. Dietary diversity was low, 36.2% of the egg group and 18.9% of the control group (p < 0.05) achieved minimum dietary diversity at endpoint. No babies developed egg allergy or sensitization, and adjusted regression analysis showed that frequency of egg intake was not related with the incidence or duration of allergy-related symptoms. This study showed that frequent egg consumption can contribute safely to complementary food for babies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Nutrient density, but not cost of diet, is associated with anemia and iron deficiency in school-age children in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of nutrient density and diet cost with anemia and iron deficiency (ID) in children. METHODS: Dietary intake data of 5- to 12-y-old children (n = 578) from three independent studies in low-income communities were pooled. Nutrient densities were calculated using the Nutrient Rich Foods index and Nutrient Rich Diet index, with higher scores indicating more nutrient-dense foods and diets. Food prices and food intake data were used to calculate ratios of nutrient density to price for foods and diets. Descriptive and correlation analyses examined associations of nutrient density and diet cost with anemia and ID. RESULTS: Most children (>50%) consumed starchy staples (100%), vegetables that are not vitamin A rich (63.9%), and legumes (58.1%), with mean NRF9.3 scores ranging from 31.9 to 56.3. Cheese, eggs, organ meat, fish, dark-green leafy vegetables, and vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits had mean NRF9.3 scores ranging from 112.6 to 184.7, but each was consumed by less than a third of the children. Children with anemia or ID had lower NRD9.3 scores than children without (P < 0.001 and P = 0.039, respectively). Diet cost did not differ according to anemia and iron status, but nutrient-density-to-price ratio was lower in children with anemia than without (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Careful selection of nutrient-dense foods as substitutes for foods with lower nutrient density could make it possible for children to consume a diet richer in specific nutrients and help prevent anemia and ID without affecting diet cost.

Associations of dietary diversity with anaemia and iron status among 5- to 12-year-old schoolchildren in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of dietary diversity with anaemia and iron status among primary school-aged children in South Africa. DESIGN: An analysis was conducted with pooled individual data from the baseline surveys from three previously conducted independent intervention studies. Two different dietary diversity scores (DDS) were calculated based on data from 1-day (1-d) and 3-day (3-d) dietary recall periods, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations of dietary diversity with anaemia and iron status. SETTING: KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Children (n 578) 5- to 12-year-old. RESULTS: A DDS ≤ 4 was associated with higher odds of being anaemic (1-d P = 0·001; 3-d P = 0·006) and being iron deficient (ID) (3-d P < 0·001). For both recall periods, consumption of 'vegetables and fruits other than vitamin A-rich' and 'animal-source foods (ASF)' was associated with lower odds of being anaemic (both P = 0·002), and 'organ meats' with lower odds of being ID (1-d P = 0·045; 3-d P < 0·001). Consumption of 'meat, chicken and fish' was associated with lower odds of being anaemic (P = 0·045), and 'vegetables and fruits other than vitamin A-rich', 'legumes, nuts and seeds' and 'ASF' with lower odds of being ID for the 3-d recall period only (P = 0·038, P = 0·020 and P = 0·003, respectively). CONCLUSION: In order to improve anaemia and iron status among primary school-aged children, dietary diversification, with emphasis on consumption of vegetables, fruits and ASF (including organ meats), should be promoted.

Nutrient patterns and their relation to anemia and iron status in 5- to 12-y-old children in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess nutrient patterns and their relation to anemia and iron status of school children using pooled data from three study populations in South Africa. METHODS: Data from 5- to 12-y-old children (N = 578) from three independent studies conducted in two provinces in South Africa were pooled. Data used in the analysis were dietary intake, hemoglobin, and plasma ferritin concentrations. Nutrient patterns were determined using factor analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine relationships of nutrient patterns with anemia and iron deficiency. RESULTS: In the pooled group, 13.8% of the children were anemic and 27.7% were iron deficient (ID). More than half of children did not meet the Estimated Average Requirement for various nutrients, including vitamins A, C, B12, folate, and zinc, although only 17.7% of children had an iron intake below the requirements. Median intakes for vitamins A and C were lower for anemic than non-anemic children (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively) and for ID versus non-ID children (P = 0.03 and 0.046, respectively). Four nutrient patterns were identified: plant protein, carbohydrate, iron, and B vitamins; animal protein and saturated fat; vitamins A and B12; and calcium and fiber. The vitamin A and B12 nutrient pattern was associated with lower odds of being anemic (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.91; P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: The present results highlighted the potential role of the combination of dietary vitamin A and B12 in the etiology of nutritional anemia in school-age children in South Africa. Nutrient pattern analysis may improve the understanding of the synergistic role of nutrients related to anemia and may assist in planning intervention strategies.