The Role of Sulfur Amino Acids in Risk of Kwashiorkor

Tufts University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Kwashiorkor

Treatments: Other: No intervention

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03520621

1605004

Details and patient eligibility

About

This observational cross-sectional study is investigating if young children in populations with higher prevalence of kwashiorkor malnutrition have lower dietary sulfur amino acid intake than populations with lower prevalence of kwashiorkor, controlling for multiple potential confounding factors. Intake is estimated through diet recalls during interviews with a child's caregiver, analysis of urine samples and analysis of food samples for their amino acid profiles.

Full description

Kwashiorkor is one of two categorizations of severe acute malnutrition, but its etiology remains unclear. Although kwashiorkor is found only where diets are low in quality protein, comparisons of total dietary protein of individual children with and without kwashiorkor has been inconclusive. This study aims to compare amino acid profiles of the diets, not just total protein.

Evidence has shown that children with kwashiorkor consistently have very low circulating levels of sulfur amino acids (cysteine and methionine). Typical staple foods in regions with endemic kwashiorkor are generally poor in sulfur amino acids and the signs characterizing kwashiorkor can plausibly be explained by a shortage of sulfur amino acids.

In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, certain populations have chronically higher prevalence of kwashiorkor than neighboring populations with similar livelihoods, religion, environment, language and ethnicity. This study will compare these two populations to understand what differences between them may explain the difference in prevalence.

Enrollment: 360 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 36 to 59 months old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• resident of the selected population
• in the appropriate age range

Exclusion criteria

• caregiver reports the child has an illness that has required treatment for at least 6 months

Trial design

360 participants in 2 patient groups

High Prevalence Population

Description:

Prevalence of kwashiorkor (as diagnosed by bipedal pitting edema) is >2% among children 36 to 59 months old in the population, in Murambi/Malehe Health Area of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Treatment:

Other: No intervention

Low Prevalence Population

Description:

Prevalence of kwashiorkor (as diagnosed by bipedal pitting edema) is <2% among children 36 to 59 months old in the population, in Murambi/Malehe Health Area of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Treatment:

Other: No intervention