Weaning and stunting affect nitrogen and carbon stable isotope natural abundances in the hair of young children.

ABSTRACT: Natural abundances of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) can vary with both dietary intake and metabolic (specifically catabolic) state. In low-income countries, weaning is a period of dietary transition from milk to plant-based foods and a high-risk period for malnutrition. We explored how diet and malnutrition impact hair δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C in young children by an observational, cross-sectional study in Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh [255 children, 6-59 months with 19.6% wasted (7.1% severely) and 36% stunted (9.8% severely)]. Hair δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C exhibited exponential decreases with age, with the loss of one trophic level (3.3‰ and 0.8‰, respectively) from 6 to 48 months, which we associate with the shift from

SUBMITTER: Dailey-Chwalibog T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7018826 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature