Whole Blood Omega 3 Fatty Acid Levels of HIV Exposed and HIV Unexposed 7 - 10 Years Old Children from a Low Income Country with High Burden of Under-Nutrition

Patience Kuona,Kusum Nathoo,Janet Dzangare,Grace Mashavave,Marshall Munjoma,Babill Stray-Pedersen

doi:10.4236/fns.2015.65050

Patience Kuona, Kusum Nathoo + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2015.65050

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Abstract

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential macronutrients that have several benefits which have been described for children’s health. Omega 3 LCPUFA metabolism has been reported to be altered in under-nourished and in HIV infected children. Therefore, we describe Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid levels of HIV infected, HIV exposed uninfected and HIV unexposed uninfected school aged children from a low income country with a high burden of HIV infection and under-nutrition. This cross-sectional study recruited children 7 to 10 years old. Capillary blood was collected on filter paper and whole blood fatty acid analysis done using automated gas liquid chromatography. Kruskal Wallis and Median tests were used to compare the distribution and medians of the Omega 3 LCPUFA among the children according to HIV status, gender, age and nutritional status. A total of 318 children were recruited with 21 (7%) being HIV infected and 116 (37%) being HIV exposed uninfected. Chronic malnutrition was present in 12% of the children. The omega 3 fatty acids were expressed as percent weight of total fatty acids. The medians (interquartile range) for EPA, DPA and DHA for all the children were 0.19 (0.09), 0.79 (0.19) and 2.14 (0.54) %wt/wt respectively. EPA, DPA and DHA levels were not associated with the HIV status of the children. EPA levels were much lower in the 7-year-age group compared with the 8 and 9 - 10-year-age groups. Further studies assessing LCPUFA levels that include larger sample size, children from both urban and rural areas are recommended as this may assist in clearly defining the association of LCPUFA with HIV status in children from low income countries with high burden of under-nutrition.

Highlights

Under-nutrition is associated with many macro- and micronutrient deficiencies
Essential fatty acid deficiency can occur in under-nutrition because of reduced intake, poor absorption, and reduced endogenous production of the Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) from the parent molecule alpha linoleic acid resulting from poor enzyme activity
Out of the possible 452 children who were eligible for recruitment, 318 children participated in the study

Summary

Introduction

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are important macronutrients whose deficiency can have a synergistic effect with various micronutrient deficiencies on growth and neurocognitive development of children. The important metabolites of alpha linoleic acid include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [2]. They are anti-inflammatory [3]-[6] and have an essential role of brain function, growth and development [7] [8]. Essential fatty acid deficiency can occur in under-nutrition because of reduced intake, poor absorption, and reduced endogenous production of the LCPUFA from the parent molecule alpha linoleic acid resulting from poor enzyme activity. Altered levels of omega 3 LCPUFA have been reported in under-nourished human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and uninfected children [12] and in HIV infected well-nourished children on highly active anti-retroviral therapy [13]

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Discussion

Conclusion