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Decreased consumption of common weaning foods is associated with poor linear growth among HIV‐exposed infants participating in the Kigali antiretroviral and breastfeeding assessment for the elimination of HIV (Kabeho) study
Author(s) -
Lane Charlotte,
Bobrow Emily A,
Ndatimana Dieudonne,
Ndayisaba Gilles F,
Adair Linda S
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23308
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , weaning , medicine , anthropometry , environmental health , population , breast feeding , breast milk , infant formula , nutrient density , pediatrics , demography , nutrient , biology , endocrinology , ecology , biochemistry , sociology
Objective The World Health Organization recommends that complementary foods that are adequate, safe, and appropriate be introduced to infants at age 6 months. Using an innovative modeling technique, we examine patterns of nutrient intake in HIV‐exposed and uninfected (HEU) infants and establish their relationship with growth. Methods Single‐day dietary recalls and anthropometrics were collected every two to 3 months from 543 infants living in Kigali, Rwanda, and attending clinics for the prevention of mother‐to‐child HIV transmission. A common weaning food index (CWFI) was calculated in grams and nutrient density for infants to reflect the extent to which the infants consumed the weaning foods typical of this population at ages 6 to 10, 11 to 15, and 16 to 20 months. Regressions among the CWFI, length‐for‐age z‐scores (LAZ), and weight‐for‐length z‐scores (WLZ) were conducted to estimate the relationship between the dietary patterns and growth. Results Mean absolute intake of zinc and calcium from complementary foods was insufficient. Increasing CWFI was related to increasing cow milk consumption. The density CWFI showed a decrease in the density of iron and folate as infants consume more of the weaning foods typical of this population. Density CWFI, breastfeeding, and caloric intake act on early LAZ and WLZ and interact with one another. Among breastfed infants, those who consume little of the common weaning foods and have a high caloric intake develop deficits in LAZ and have an elevated WLZ. Conclusions A diet that is more dominated by the typical weaning foods of this population may support a healthy growth pattern.