The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize rewards the persistent vision of a world without hunger, famine, or malnutrition

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Author

Why did the UN World Food Programme (WFP) receive the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize? And what does that have to do with nutrition? The answer to both questions is embedded in renewed concerns globally about food insecurity.

During 2020, this strangest of years, food has emerged as an important narrative shadowing COVID-19 at every step. During the early months of the pandemic, the focus of much attention was on the effects on food supply chains of lockdown rules brought in to control viral spread... [continued]

Biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction are differently associated with recovery and growth among children with moderate acute malnutrition in Sierra Leone

Publication Type

Abstract

Background

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) may influence growth during and recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), however, biomarkers to assess these relations have yet to be identified.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop a score for EED based on host fecal mRNA transcripts, 2) compare biomarkers of EED with each other, and 3) examine associations between the EED biomarkers and recovery from MAM and growth outcomes.

Aflatoxin exposure and child nutrition: measuring anthropometric and long-bone growth over time in Nepal

Publication Type

Abstract

Background

Naturally occurring aflatoxins may contribute to poor growth and nutritional statuses in children.

Objectives

We analyzed the relationship between contemporary and lagged aflatoxin exposure and 1) length-for-age z-score (LAZ); and 2) length, knee-heel length, stunting, weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), and weight-for-length z-score (WLZ).

Methods

Food insecurity, but not HIV-infection status, is associated with adverse changes in body composition during lactation in Ugandan women of mixed HIV status

Publication Type

A cohort of 246 women [36.5% of whom were HIV positive (HIV+) and were receiving ART] were followed to 12 mo postpartum. Repeated measures included weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, mid upper arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness [which allowed for the derivation of arm muscle area (AMA) and arm fat area (AFA)], breastfeeding, and individual food insecurity. Longitudinal regression models were constructed to assess associations between HIV and food insecurity and changes in body composition over time.