Infant responsiveness, alertness, haemoglobin and growth in rural Sidama, Ethiopia.

Several recent studies have supported relations between infant behaviour (alertness and responsiveness) and nutrition in addition to investigating infant behaviour within the context of changes in iron status over time. Existing research is typically limited to the investigation of the effects of a single vitamin or mineral, and no studies have been found that examined the influence that early alertness and responsiveness have on growth in early infancy, despite the fact that relations between behaviour and nutritional status may be bidirectional. The current study used a sample of Ethiopian infants and investigated anthropometrics, haemoglobin, the frequency of alertness and the frequency of responsiveness at 6 and 9 months of age. Six-month weight-for-age predicted 9-month frequency of alertness, while 6-month haemoglobin predicted 9-month frequency of responsiveness. Compared with responsive infants, non-responsive infants at 6 months remained more non-responsive at 9 months, although weight-for-age for both groups converged at 9 months. Results support relations between nutrition and behaviour (alertness and responsiveness) and provide evidence of a potentially useful tool (the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery) that was adapted to evaluate these relations in Ethiopia.

Scores on the safe functional motion test are associated with prevalent fractures and fall history.

PURPOSE: The Safe Functional Motion test (SFM) was developed to measure observed body mechanics and functional motion associated with spine load, balance, strength, and flexibility during everyday tasks to profile modifiable risks for osteoporotic fracture. This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between SFM score and history of vertebral compression fracture (VCF), hip fracture, and injurious falls, all established predictors of future risk. METHOD: An osteoporosis clinic database was queried for adults with an initial SFM score and corresponding data for prevalent VCF and/or hip fracture, femoral neck bone mineral density (fnBMD), and history of injurious fall (n=847). Multiple logistic regressions, adjusted for age, gender, and fnBMD (and injurious falls in the prevalent fracture analyses), were used to determine whether associations exist between SFM score and prevalent VCF, prevalent hip fracture, and history of injurious fall. RESULTS: SFM score was associated with prevalent VCF (odds ratio [OR]=0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-0.99; p=0.036), prevalent hip fracture (OR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.92; p=0.004), and history of injurious fall (OR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.93; p=0.003) after adjusting for other important covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with higher SFM scores ("safer motion" during performance of everyday tasks) were less likely to have a history of fracture or injurious fall. Further study is warranted to evaluate the predictive value of this tool.

Objectif : Le test fonctionnel de mouvement (Safe Functional Motiontest, SFM) a été créé pour mesurer les mécanismes corporels et le mouvement fonctionnel associés à la sollicitation de la colonne vertébrale, à l'équilibre, à la force et à la souplesse au cours des activités quotidiennes, afin d'établir un profil des risques modifiables de fracture ostéoporotique. Cette étude transversale a évalué les associations entre les pointages obtenus au SFM et l'historique de fractures de compression vertébrale (FCV), de fracture de la hanche et de chutes préjudiciables qui sont autant de signes avant-coureurs confirmés de risques futurs. Méthode : Une recherche a été effectuée dans la base de données d'une clinique de l'ostéoporose afin de répertorier des adultes dont les résultats initiaux au SFM de départ, les données correspondantes et la densité minérale osseuse du col du fémur (DMOcf) prédisposaient à une FCV ou à une fracture de la hanche, ou qui possédaient des antécédents de chute préjudiciable (n=847). De multiples régressions logistiques, adaptées en fonction de l'âge, du sexe et de la DMOcf (et des chutes préjudiciables de l'analyse des risques de fractures) ont été utilisées pour déterminer si les associations entre les résultats du SFM et la prévalence des FCV, des fractures à la hanche et des chutes préjudiciables existent effectivement. Résultats : Les résultats du SFM ont été associés avec des FCV prévalentes (risque relatif approché [RRA]=0,89; 95 % d'IC, 0,79­0,99; p=0,036), des fractures de la hanche prévalentes (RRA=0,77; 95 % d'IC, 0,65­0,92; p=0,004) et des antécédents de chute préjudiciable (RRA=0,80; 95 % d'IC, 0,70­0,93; p=0,003) après ajustement d'autres covariables importantes. Conclusions : Les adultes dont les résultats au SFM étaient plus élevés (« mouvements sûrs ¼ au cours de l'exécution de tâches courantes) couraient moins de risques d'afficher des antécédents de fracture ou de chute préjudiciables. D'autres études seront nécessaires pour évaluer la valeur prévisionnelle de cet outil.

Interactive relations among maternal depressive symptomatology, nutrition, and parenting.

Theoretical models linking maternal nutrition, depressive symptomatology, and parenting are underdeveloped. However, existing literature suggests that iron status and depressive symptomatology interact in relation to problematic parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive). Therefore, in the current study the authors investigate these interactive relations in a sample of breastfeeding mothers (n = 105) interviewed at three months postpartum. Participants completed questionnaires (from December 2008 to January 2011) regarding their depressive symptomatology and parenting styles. Iron status (i.e., hemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptors, and serum ferritin concentrations) was assessed from blood samples. Significant interactions were found between iron status and depressive symptomatology in relation to authoritarian parenting style (low warmth, high punishment and directiveness). For those women with hemoglobin below 14.00 g/dL, depressive symptomatology was positively related to authoritarian parenting style (p < 0.001). Thus, screening for poor iron status and depressive sympatomology in postpartum women may help to identify those at risk for problematic parenting. Dietary interventions may help to eliminate relations between depressive symptoms and problematic parenting.

Hemoglobin, growth, and attention of infants in southern Ethiopia.

Male and female infants from rural Ethiopia were tested to investigate relations among hemoglobin (Hb), anthropometry, and attention. A longitudinal design was used to examine differences in attention performance from 6 (M = 24.9 weeks, n = 89) to 9 months of age (M = 40.6 weeks, n = 85), differences hypothesized to be related to changes in iron status and growth delays. Stunting (length-for-age z scores < -2.0) and attention performance, t(30) = -2.42, p = .022, worsened over time. Growth and Hb predicted attention at 9 months, R(2) = .15, p < .05, but not at 6. The study contributes to the knowledge base concerning the relations among Hb, early growth, and attention.

The role of iron in neurocognitive development.

In this article we present a review of the current literature relating iron and iron deficiency to psychological and neurobiological outcomes in both humans and experimental animals. In particular, we focus on the role of iron during gestation and infancy and the possible impact on neurobehavioral development in the short and long term. In the context of reviewing this literature, the following questions are addressed: (1) What are the neural mechanisms that are directly influenced by iron and iron deficiency? (2) Does iron play a true causal role in determining these outcomes? (3) Is there a sensitive period during which iron deficiency is most harmful?