Antenatal micronutrient supplementation reduces metabolic syndrome in 6- to 8-year-old children in rural Nepal.
Previously, we showed that antenatal micronutrient supplementation increases birth weight in a malnourished rural South Asian setting, but the long-term effects are unknown. Between 1999 and 2001, pregnant women were sector-randomized to receive from early pregnancy through 3 mo postpartum daily micronutrient supplements containing either vitamin A alone as the control or with folic acid; folic acid+iron; folic acid+iron+zinc; or a multiple micronutrient supplement that included the above nutrients plus 11 others. From 2006 to 2008, 3524 children (93% of surviving children) were revisited between the ages of 6 and 8 y. Blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and the urinary microalbumin:creatinine ratio were assessed among children. Insulin resistance was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and metabolic syndrome was defined using a modified National Cholesterol Education Program definition. None of the micronutrient supplement combinations affected blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, or HOMA. There was a reduced risk of microalbuminuria (> or =3.40 mg/mmol creatinine) in the folic acid [odds ratio (OR), 0.56; 95%CI, 0.33-0.93; P = 0.02) and folic acid+iron+zinc (OR, 0.53; CI, 0.32-0.89; P = 0.02) groups and a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome in the folic acid group (OR, 0.63; CI, 0.41-0.97; P = 0.03). Maternal supplementation with folic acid or folic acid+iron+zinc reduced the risk of kidney dysfunction and, to some extent, metabolic syndrome among children at 6-8 y of age. Supplementation with multiple micronutrients had no such affect. Future follow-up studies are needed to examine long-term supplementation effects on risk of chronic diseases in adults.
Stewart
Christine P
CP
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. pchristi@jhsph.edu
Christian
Parul
P
Schulze
Kerry J
KJ
Leclerq
Steven C
SC
West
Keith P
KP
Khatry
Subarna K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009390:Nepal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004338:Drug Combinations; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc