Low Fruit and Vegetable Consumption is Associated with Linear Growth Faltering among Children in Urban Bangladesh

Tahmina Parvin, Kelly Endres, M. Tasdik Hasan, Ismat Minhaj Uddin, Md Sazzadul Islam Bhuyian, Fatema Zohura, Nicole Coglianese, Shwapon Kumar Biswas, Munirul Alam, Abu S.G. Faruque, Joel Gittelsohn, Jamie Perin, Christine Marie George

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the association between dietary diversity and child growth among children 6 to 23 months of age in urban slums of Bangladesh. This prospective cohort study enrolled 192 participants 6 to 23 months of age in Dhaka, Bangladesh. To collect dietary intake information for children 6 to 23 months of age, consumption of five or more of the following eight minimum dietary diversity food groups was recorded using 24-hour dietary recall by the child’s caregiver: 1) breast milk; 2) grains, roots, and tubers; 3) legumes and nuts; 4) dairy products; 5) flesh foods; 6) eggs; 7) vitamin A–rich fruits and vegetables; and 8) other fruits and vegetables. Height and weight were measured at baseline and at a 12-month follow-up. Fifty-five percent of children (106 of 192) consumed five or more of the eight minimum dietary diversity food groups during their first visit to assess dietary intake. Eighty-two percent of children (157 of 192) had a report of consuming an animal source of food (e.g., eggs, dairy, flesh foods) in the past 24 hours, 85% (164 of 192) consumed any source of protein (e.g., eggs, dairy, flesh foods, nuts, and legumes), and 65% of children (125 of 192) were reported to consume any fruits and vegetables. Child consumption of fruits and vegetables was positively associated with change in length-for-age z-scores from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (coefficient, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.03–1.68). Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with linear growth faltering among the young children residing in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh. These findings demonstrate the need for effective interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in this susceptible pediatric population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1741-1746
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume106
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology
  • Parasitology

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