The Role of Sulfur Amino Acids in Risk of Kwashiorkor

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Clinical Trial 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. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Kwashiorkor

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT03520621
Study type	Observational
Source	Tufts University
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase
Start date	June 1, 2016
Completion date	August 2, 2017

View Details

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