Animal milk sustains micronutrient nutrition and child anthropometry among pastoralists in Samburu, Kenya.

Milk has been integral to pastoralist nutrition for thousands of years, but as communities move toward settled livelihoods, milk consumption is dropping with only minimal evidence for the health and nutrition implications. This longitudinal study aimed to first test whether increased dependency on agriculture reduced household milk production and consumption, and ultimately, nutrient adequacy among the Samburu pastoralists. Second, we investigated whether household milk availability affected child milk intakes and anthropometry. Socioeconomic and dietary intake data were collected from households (n = 200) in 2000, 2005, and 2010, and anthropometric measures and individual child milk intakes in 2012. Nutrient intakes were assessed by the probability of nutrient adequacy method, and generalized least-squared regression modeling with mixed effects was applied to identify predictors of milk consumption. Milk contributed 10% of energy intakes, below maize (52%) and sugar (11%), but over one-half of critical micronutrients, vitamins A, B12 , and C. Livestock holdings and income increased the likelihood of higher milk intakes (overall adj R(2)  = 0.88, P < 0.001). Undernutrition was widely prevalent among young children: stunting (30.6%); underweight (23.9%); and wasting (8.6%). There was evidence for a previously described Nilotic body type in the youth, who were taller and thinner than the international reference. Milk consumption at the household level was positively associated with higher body mass index z scores among youth (P < 0.001). Programming for livestock development may better ensure micronutrient nutrition in Samburu, while deeper investigation into the diet and growth patterns of pastoralists could provide insight into leaner and taller anthropometrics for other populations globally.

Iannotti L ，Lesorogol C 《-》

Livestock production, animal source food intake, and young child growth: the role of gender for ensuring nutrition impacts.

Animal source foods (ASF) provide critical micronutrients in highly bioavailable forms, with the potential to efficiently address undernutrition among young children living in developing countries. There is limited evidence for how livestock ownership might increase ASF intake in poor households either through own-consumption or income generation. Along with lack of nutrition knowledge, gender dimensions may affect the pathways leading from livestock ownership to child ASF intake and ultimately to young child growth. Using data from a large-scale impact evaluation conducted in Kenya, this study tested the hypothesis that co-owned/female-owned livestock would be associated with improved child growth, mediated by increases in ASF consumption. Data were collected from September 2010 to January 2011 from households in six provinces in Kenya on a broad range of agricultural, economic, social, health and nutrition factors. Children ages 6-60 months were included in this analysis (n = 183). In this sample, co-owned/female-owned livestock was valued at 18,861 Kenyan shillings in contrast with male-owned livestock valued at 66,343 Kenyan shillings. Multivariate linear regression models showed a positive association between co-owned/female-owned livestock with child weight-for-age z score (WAZ) after adjusting for caregiver education level, income, child age, and child sex. A mediating effect by child ASF intake was evident, explaining 25% of the relationship of livestock ownership with child WAZ, by Sobel-Goodman test (p < .05). A trend towards significance was demonstrated for co-owned/female-owned livestock and height-for-age z score (HAZ), and no effect was apparent for weight-for-height z score (WHZ). The partial mediating effect may be indicative of other factors inherent in co-owned/female-owned livestock such as higher status of females in these households with greater influence over other child care practices promoting growth. Nonetheless, our study suggests targeting females in livestock production programming may better ensure improvements in child nutrition.

Jin M ，Iannotti LL 《-》

Onset and evolution of stunting in infants and children. Examples from the Human Nutrition Collaborative Research Support Program. Kenya and Egypt studies.

Neumann CG ，Harrison GG 《EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION》

Nutritional status of rural children in the Lesotho Highlands.

Jooste PL ，Langenhoven ML ，Kriek JA ，Kunneke E ，Nyaphisi M ，Sharp B ... -  《-》

Energy and nutrient intake of infants and young children in pastoralist communities of Ethiopia.

Nutrient intake from complementary foods often is suboptimal in subsistent farming households of developing countries, but little is known about this in pastoralist communities. The aim of this study was to estimate the energy and nutrient intake of children ages 6 to 23 mo living in pastoralist communities of Ethiopia. As part of the Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey, 24-h dietary recall data were collected through in-home interviews from a nationally representative sample. In the present study, we report on the feeding characteristics, energy and nutrient intake of infants and young children (ages 6-23 mo) living in pastoralist communities (N = 896) of Ethiopia. Energy and nutrient intakes were estimated and compared with estimated needs from complementary foods. The nutrient density of the complementary diets was compared with desired densities. About one-third of the children were stunted. Diets were predominantly dairy and cereal-based. The dietary diversity score was low (2 ± 1.2). Consumption of nutrient-dense foods such as animal source foods (other than milk), vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables was very low. Energy intake from complementary foods were inadequate. Multiple micronutrient deficiencies including thiamin, niacin, iron, zinc, and calcium and in some instances vitamins A and C were observed in young children. The number of micronutrients for which intake was found deficient increased with child's age. Energy and nutrient intakes from complementary foods are inadequate in pastoralist communities of Ethiopia. Interventions that improve knowledge and practice of complementary feeding are needed in this setting.

Mengistu G ，Moges T ，Samuel A ，Baye K ... -  《-》