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El Niño Southern Oscillation affects girls' nutrient intakes and adequacies in the Peruvian Amazon
Author(s) -
Ambikapathi Ramya,
Kosek Margaret,
Yori Pablo Peñataro,
Olortegui Maribel Paredes,
Zaitchik Benjamin,
Lee Gwenyth O.,
Bauck Aubrey,
Caulfield Laura
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.639.43
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , nutrient , micronutrient , environmental health , breast feeding , amazon rainforest , medicine , geography , environmental science , pediatrics , biology , ecology , pathology
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that causes inter‐annual variability in precipitation, temperature and river discharge in the Peruvian Amazon. These environmental shifts under two different ENSO phases (El Niño and La Niña) cause large differences in crop productivity and food prices. Although, the impact of ENSO on food prices has been studied, very little is known how these effects influence nutritional security in affected communities. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of ENSO exposure on nutrition of young children in the Peruvian Amazon. The children were particpants in a longitudinal follow up of a birth cohort. Overall, 5714 dietary recalls were collected from 252 children from 2010 to 2014, where their exposures to both El Niño and La Niña. Nutrient intakes were quantified from these recalls, and adequacy was estimated by breastfeeding status using the UN Recommended Nutrient Intakes. Overall, non‐breastfed children showed lower adequacy compared to breastfed children. Most children were adequate for vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin A (only among breastfed children). Although exposure to La Niña increased energy by 85 kcal/d, girls consumed 89–112 kcal/d less than boys, after adjusting for weight, socio economic status, age, parity, and breast feeding status. Differences in gender were also observed in intakes of macronutrients (especially animal source protein) and micronutrients and in nutrient adequacy. In a resource limited setting such as the one presented here, climate variations affect food procuring strategies that appear to negatively affect girls. These results have implications for nutritional policies and programs in Peru, and raise questions about effects in other communities affected by ENSO. Support or Funding Information This study is funded by FNIH through grant from BMGF, and IGERT and E 2 SHI.Heat map of median Nutrient Adequacy Ratios by breastfeeding status and season