Association Between Biomarkers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Linear Growth and Neurodevelopment in Guatemalan Infants.
| Title: | Association Between Biomarkers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Linear Growth and Neurodevelopment in Guatemalan Infants. |
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| Authors: | Connery AK; Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.; Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.; Calvimontes DM; Center for Human Development, Fundación para la Salud Integral de los Guatemaltecos, Retalhuleu, Guatemala.; Bucardo F; Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.; Olson D; Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.; Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.; Colbert AM; Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.; Bartelt L; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.; Asturias EJ; Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.; Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.; Lamb MM; Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.; Becker-Dreps S; Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. |
| Source: | The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene [Am J Trop Med Hyg] 2025 Oct 23; Vol. 113 (6), pp. 1423-1429. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 23 (Print Publication: 2025). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0370507 Publication Model: Electronic-Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-1645 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00029637 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Trop Med Hyg Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Northbrook, IL : American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Original Publication: Baltimore. |
| MeSH Terms: | Biomarkers*/blood ; Child Development*; Guatemala/epidemiology ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 2/blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Female ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cohort Studies |
| Abstract: | Growing evidence implicates environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) as a driver of poor growth and neurodevelopment (ND) in early childhood. To investigate these findings, a cross-sectional study examining associations between biomarkers reflecting various domains of EED and growth and ND in Guatemalan infants was conducted. A subset of 114 cohort infants was randomly selected from a 2017-2019 population-based cohort study of 499 infants in rural southwest Guatemala. Growth and neurodevelopmental performance were assessed at a household visit at ∼13 months of age using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Serum samples collected at the visit were analyzed for concentrations of biomarkers, assessing inflammation (α-1 acid glycoprotein), intestinal repair (glucagon-like peptide-2), and intestinal barrier disruption (anti-flagellin immunoglobulin A [anti-FliC IgA]). Multivariable regression analyses, adjusting for relevant confounders, were conducted to define the associations between these EED biomarkers and length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) and neurodevelopmental performance. Analyses both including and excluding infants who exhibited acute infectious disease symptoms at the time of the visit were planned. However, no significant associations were found between these biomarkers and LAZ or MSEL scores in the analysis of all children. Removing infants with acute infectious symptoms revealed an association between anti-FliC IgA and MSEL. Specifically, an increase of 10 ng/L in anti-FliC IgA concentration was associated with a decrease in the MSEL Early Learning Composite (ELC) raw score of 3.2 points, equating to approximately a nine-point decrease in the ELC standard score. Having higher levels of anti-FliC IgA may represent a significant risk to long-term health and development. |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Biomarkers); 0 (Glucagon-Like Peptide 2) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251023 Date Completed: 20260209 Latest Revision: 20260210 |
| Update Code: | 20260210 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12676612 |
| DOI: | 10.4269/ajtmh.25-0278 |
| PMID: | 41130215 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article