TY - JOUR
T1 - Micronutrient status and neurodevelopment in internationally adopted children
AU - Fuglestad, Anita J.
AU - Kroupina, Maria G.
AU - Johnson, Dana E.
AU - Georgieff, Michael K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©2015 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - Aim To assess the status of nutrients relevant for brain development in internationally adoptees from disparate global regions and determine whether identified deficiencies are associated with neurodevelopment. Methods Participants included children adopted from Post-Soviet States (n = 15), Ethiopia (n = 26) or China (n = 17), ages 8-18 months. A comprehensive nutritional battery and a neurodevelopmental assessment were completed at baseline (within one month of arrival) and follow-up (six months later). Results At baseline, 35% were stunted, and 68% had at least one abnormal nutritional biochemical marker. The most common were low retinol-binding protein (33%), zinc deficiency (29%), vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (21%), and iron deficiency (15%). There was significant catch-up growth in height and weight at follow-up, but little improvement in micronutrient deficiencies. Iron deficiency was associated with lower cognitive scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III, p = 0.027, and slower speed of processing, p = 0.012. Zinc deficiency was associated with compromised memory functioning, p = 0.001. Conclusion Nutrient deficiencies were common during the early adoption period in internationally adoptees from three global regions, and iron and zinc deficiencies were associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. Results emphasise the importance of monitoring micronutrient status at arrival and during the early adoption period, irrespective of country of origin.
AB - Aim To assess the status of nutrients relevant for brain development in internationally adoptees from disparate global regions and determine whether identified deficiencies are associated with neurodevelopment. Methods Participants included children adopted from Post-Soviet States (n = 15), Ethiopia (n = 26) or China (n = 17), ages 8-18 months. A comprehensive nutritional battery and a neurodevelopmental assessment were completed at baseline (within one month of arrival) and follow-up (six months later). Results At baseline, 35% were stunted, and 68% had at least one abnormal nutritional biochemical marker. The most common were low retinol-binding protein (33%), zinc deficiency (29%), vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (21%), and iron deficiency (15%). There was significant catch-up growth in height and weight at follow-up, but little improvement in micronutrient deficiencies. Iron deficiency was associated with lower cognitive scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III, p = 0.027, and slower speed of processing, p = 0.012. Zinc deficiency was associated with compromised memory functioning, p = 0.001. Conclusion Nutrient deficiencies were common during the early adoption period in internationally adoptees from three global regions, and iron and zinc deficiencies were associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. Results emphasise the importance of monitoring micronutrient status at arrival and during the early adoption period, irrespective of country of origin.
KW - Early adversity
KW - Growth
KW - International adoption
KW - Micronutrient deficiencies
KW - Nutrition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84954370601&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84954370601&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/apa.13234
DO - 10.1111/apa.13234
M3 - Article
C2 - 26439893
AN - SCOPUS:84954370601
SN - 0803-5253
VL - 105
SP - e67-e76
JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
IS - 2
ER -