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Background
In Tanzania, 35% of all children below five years of age are stunted. Dietary fatty acids (FA)
are critical for growth and development. However, whole blood FA levels in Tanzanian children
are poorly described.
Objective
The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to assess 1) whole blood levels of essential
fatty acids and 2) the association between whole blood FA levels and growth parameters
in Tanzanian children 2–6 years of age.
Methods
A drop of blood was collected on an antioxidant treated card and analyzed for FA composition.
Weight and height were measured and z-scores calculated. Relationships between
FAs and growth parameters were analyzed by linear regression.
Results
Of the 334 children that participated, 30.3% were stunted. The average whole blood level of
Mead acid was 0.15%. The anthropometric z-score height-for-age (HAZ) was inversely
associated with Mead acid, the Mead acid to arachidonic acid (T/T) ratio, and total n-9 FA.
Additionally, HAZ was positively associated with linoleic acid and total n-6 FA. BMI-for-age
was positively associated with oleic acid, total n-9 FA and T/T ratio but inversely associated
with arachidonic acid and total n-6 FA. Weight-for-height was inversely associated with arachidonic
acid and total n-6 FAs and positively associated with oleic acid and total n-9 FA. Weight-for-age was not associated with any FA tested. Total n-3 FAs were not associated
with any growth parameters measured.
Conclusions
The EFA linoleic acid and the markers of FA deficiency were associated with HAZ, an indicator
for stunting in 2–6 year old Tanzanian children. Total n-6, total n-9, and a number of
individual FAs were associated with growth. Increasing dietary intake of EFA and n-6 FAs
may be a strategy to combat stunting in this population. |
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