Y Sharif1, O Sadeghi1, A Dorosty2, F Siassi2, M Jalali2, A Djazayery2, A Shokri3, K Mohammad4, M Parsaeian4, Z Abdollahi5, R Heshmat6, A Yarparvar7, H Pouraram8, A Esmaillzadeh9. 1. Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran. 4. School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran. 5. Nutrition Department, Under-secretary for Health, Ministry of Health & Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. 6. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran. 7. Health and Nutrition Unit, UNICEF, Tehran, Iran. 8. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hpouraram@yahoo.com. 9. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of serum levels of 25(OH)D3 (vitamin D), retinol (vitamin A) and zinc with stunting in a large sample of Iranian toddlers. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 4261 children, aged 10-36 months, who had Iranian birth certificates were included in the present study. Weight and height were measured by experienced professionals in accordance with standard protocols. Stunting was defined as a height-for-age z-score of <-1 standard deviation (SD) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (the WHO Child Growth Standards median). Serum levels of 25(OH)D3, retinol and zinc were examined based on standard methods. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 19.2 ± 8.4 months. A significant inverse association was found between serum retinol concentrations and the odds of stunting such that after controlling for potential confounders, toddlers in the highest quartile of serum retinol levels had 29% lower odds of stunting than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.97). Furthermore, a significant inverse association was found between serum levels of retinol and stunting in girls (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.94), urban toddlers (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.99) and those who did not use nutritional supplements (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52-0.95). Although serum 25(OH)D3 levels were not significantly associated with stunting in the overall study population, we found a positive association among toddlers who used nutritional supplements. No significant association was found between serum levels of zinc and stunting. CONCLUSION: We found a significant inverse association between serum levels of retinol and stunting in toddlers aged 10-36 months.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of serum levels of 25(OH)D3 (vitamin D), retinol (vitamin A) and zinc with stunting in a large sample of Iranian toddlers. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 4261 children, aged 10-36 months, who had Iranian birth certificates were included in the present study. Weight and height were measured by experienced professionals in accordance with standard protocols. Stunting was defined as a height-for-age z-score of <-1 standard deviation (SD) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (the WHO Child Growth Standards median). Serum levels of 25(OH)D3, retinol and zinc were examined based on standard methods. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 19.2 ± 8.4 months. A significant inverse association was found between serum retinol concentrations and the odds of stunting such that after controlling for potential confounders, toddlers in the highest quartile of serum retinol levels had 29% lower odds of stunting than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.97). Furthermore, a significant inverse association was found between serum levels of retinol and stunting in girls (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.94), urban toddlers (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.99) and those who did not use nutritional supplements (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52-0.95). Although serum 25(OH)D3 levels were not significantly associated with stunting in the overall study population, we found a positive association among toddlers who used nutritional supplements. No significant association was found between serum levels of zinc and stunting. CONCLUSION: We found a significant inverse association between serum levels of retinol and stunting in toddlers aged 10-36 months.