Pathways leading to early growth faltering: an investigation into the importance of mucosal damage and immunostimulation in different socio-economic groups in Nepal

Early childhood growth retardation persists in developing countries despite decades of nutritional interventions. Adequate food is necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure normal growth where there is ubiquitous exposure to infection. Pathways associated with infection, small intestinal mucosal damage and chronic immunostimulation remain largely undemonstrated in countries other than The Gambia. We conducted a longitudinal study of one squatter and one middle-class group (n 86, 3–18 month olds) to assess these relationships in Nepal. Growth, mucosal damage index (MDI; urinary lactose:creatinine ratio adjusted for body weight), morbidity reports, and blood concentrations of albumin, α-1-acid glycoprotein, IgG and Hb, were recorded monthly. Growth status worsened dramatically from 6 to 18 months, with squatters more stunted (height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), P