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A Nutrition Paradox: Underweight and Obesity in Developing Countries (Caballero B, NEJM, 2005 Apr 14; 352:1514-1516, Number 15)
In the April 14, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Benjamin Caballero, PhD, MD, describes the "nutrition paradox" —a phenomenon in countries undergoing rapid socioeconomic change where the problems of overweight and underweight frequently co-exist. This "double burden" is more common in countries of intermediate development, like China, where being overweight now ranks fifth among the top ten contributors to the overall disease burden, just below undernutrition. Read the article>>

For a complete list of recent research publications organized by faculty member, please go to our publications database.

The following is a list of key findings from recent studies by CHN faculty:

Vitamin A deficiency as a preventable cause of maternal mortality in undernourished societies: plausibility and next steps (West, KP Jr, Int J Gynaecol Obstet; 2004 June, Vol 85, Issue 1, Supp 1: S24-S27)
Recent evidence from Nepal suggests that supplementing populations of rural, poor, and undernourished women with a recommended dietary amount of vitamin A (or beta-carotene) can lower mortality risk related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Undernutrition as an underlying cause of child deaths associated with diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles (Caulfield LE, de Onis M, Blossner M, and Black RE, Am J Clin Nutr ; 2004 Jul 1, 200479: 1323)
Undernutrition is the underlying cause of more than 53 percent of all child deaths that occur annually, including those from infectious diseases, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and malaria, according to this analysis of 10 large cohort studies from sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Calcium kinetics are altered in clinically stable girls with cystic fibrosis (Schulze KJ, O’Brien KO, et al; J Clin Endocrinol Metab; 2004 Jul;89(7):3385-91)
Reduced bone mass in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) may result from alterations in calcium metabolism. Calcium metabolism was assessed using in vitro stable isotopes of calcium in 22 prepubertal and pubertal girls with CF. Investigators concluded that increased calcium absorption and serum leptin concentrations contribute to reduced bone mass in girls with CF.

Defining accelerometer thresholds for activity intensities in adolescent girls. (Treuth MS, et al; Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Jul;36(7):1259-66.)
Investigators used multiple technologies to measure physical activity in 74 healthy 8th grade girls. From this data, they were able to estimate physical activity intensity by the metabolic equivilent (or MET) and define thresholds used to delineate sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity in this age group.

Undernutrition as an underlying cause of malaria morbidity and mortality in children less than five years old. (Caulfield LE, Richard SA, Black RE; Am J Trop Med Hyg; 2004 Aug;71(2 Suppl):55-63. Review.)
This analysis of recent data from malaria endemic regions adds new evidence that a large percentage of child deaths related to malaria are caused by undernutrition, and suggests that improving child nutrition could prevent more malaria-related illnesses and deaths than previously thought.

Antenatal anthelmintic treatment, birthweight, and infant survival in rural Nepal. (Christian P, Khatry SK, West KP Jr; Lancet. 2004 Sep 11;364(9438):981-3.)
Investigators examined the association between treatments to rid the body of parasites (anthelminths) and maternal anemia, birthweight, and infant mortality in a study of prenatal supplements in Nepal in which women received albendazole twice during pregnancy. Antenatal anthelmintics were effective in reducing maternal anemia and improving birthweight and infant survival in this population and show potential for use in interventions in hookworm endemic regions.

Zinc and the risk for infectious disease. (Walker CF, Black RE., Annu Rev Nutr. 2004;24:255-75.)
The deficiency of zinc, an essential micronutrient for human growth, development, and immune function, impairs overall immune function and resistance to infection. Mild to moderate zinc deficiency can be best detected through a positive response to supplementation trials. Zinc supplementation has been shown to have a positive effect on the incidence of diarrhea (18% reduction, 95% CI: 7-28%) and pneumonia (41% reduction, 95% CI: 17-59%), and might lead to a decrease in the incidence of malaria. Zinc has also proven to decrease the duration of diarrhea by 15% (95% CI: 5-24%). Maternal zinc supplementation may lead to a decrease in infant infections. Two studies have shown zinc supplementation to decrease child mortality by more than 50%. Zinc clearly has an important role in infant and childhood infectious diseases; programs to increase the intake of zinc among deficient populations are needed.

Calcium and Bone Mineral Metabolism in Children with Chronic Illnesses (Abrams SA, O'Brien KO., Annu Rev Nutr. 2004 Jul;24:13-32) Increased longevity and improved medical management of children with chronic illnesses has led to a focus on the short- and long-term consequences of these conditions on bone health. Assessment of bone mass and quality, calcium absorption, kinetically derived rates of bone turnover, and biochemical markers of bone turnover have increased our knowledge of the pathophysiology of bone loss in these children as well as provided insights into possible therapeutic interventions. Increased intake of calcium and vitamin D, while useful, is unlikely to prevent or resolve bone loss in many chronically ill children. Emphasis on a combination of nutritional interventions with exercise and newer bone-sparing therapies may be necessary.