Iron Status is Associated with Body Composition in Cambodian Infants and Young Children

Abstract

Objectives: Malnutrition in early childhood predisposes to a higher risk for non-communicable diseases such as obesity and cardio-vascular diseases later in life through not fully understood metabolic alterations. Little is known about body composition in early childhood in relation to micronutrient status. Methods: Infants were recruited through the WinFood project which studied the effectiveness of fortified complementary foods (FCF) in improving health and growth. Anthropometry (weight, height, MUAC, skinfolds), body composition (deuterium dilution) and micronutrient status (iron, zinc, vitamin A) were measured at 6 mo and 15 mo of age. Results: From 269 Cambodian infants data on body composition and micronutrient status were available for both time-points. Lean body mass increased with 1.96 ±0.59 kg, whereas percentage body fat decreased from 21.7% to 14.9% over the study period (P<0.001). At 6 and 15 mo of age, body fat was strongly correlated to ponderal growth (WHZ, P<0.01) but not to length growth (HAZ) or gender. Vitamin A and zinc status were not related to fat mass. Iron status at 6 and 15 months of age significantly correlated with body composition, with infants with no iron stores at endpoint having a higher fat mass (14.0% vs 15.5%, P=0.02). Infants without iron deficiency during the study had significant lower fat mass (13.3%) than infants who were iron deficient at both time-points (16.4%, P<0.01) Conclusions: Iron status, but not vitamin A or zinc status, was related to body composition in Cambodian infants. FCF aimed at improving iron status in early childhood may have long-term health benefits.