title: An evolving perspective about the origins of childhood undernutrition and nutritional interventions that includes the gut microbiome.
abstract: The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science and the World Health Organization (WHO) have worked together to formulate a research agenda for nutrition science. Undernutrition of children has profound effects on health, development, and achievement of full human capacity. Undernutrition is not simply caused by a lack of food, but results from a complex interplay of intra- and intergenerational factors. Representative preclinical models and comprehensive well-controlled longitudinal clinical studies are needed to further understand the contributions and the interrelationships among these factors and to develop interventions that are effective and durable. This paper summarizes work on mechanisms underlying the varied manifestations of childhood undernutrition and discusses current gaps in knowledge and challenges to our understanding of undernutrition and infection/immunity throughout the human life cycle, focusing on early childhood growth. It proposes a series of basic and clinical studies to address this global health challenge.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Tahmeed
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Auble
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berkley
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Philip P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.forename: Muttaquina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Santhia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ireen
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabi
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000639:trends*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: environmental enteropathy; epigenetics; gnotobiotic mice; gut microbiota, nutrient-immune system interactions, gut barrier function; neurodevelopment and brain metabolism; stunting; undernutrition