Low dietary diversity increases stunting in infants and children aged <5 years

Objectives:
Is there an association between dietary diversity (DDiv) and growth outcomes (stunting, wasting and underweight) in children aged 5 years?

Study design:
This review article included 70 cross-sectional studies, 4 longitudinal cohort studies, 5 case-control studies and 2 randomized controlled trials.

Of the studies, 45 focused on infants and 36 on children aged 5 years.
The reviewed articles had good quality and low risk of bias (scores >6).

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found in infants, low dietary diversity was significantly associated with stunting, wasting and being underweight [79%, 57% and 68% of the studies, respectively].

The investigators found among children aged 5 years, the association was observed in 75%, 56% and 57% of the studies, respectively, for stunting, wasting and underweight.

The investigators concluded the findings indicate an association between low dietary diversity (DDiv) of infants and children aged 5 years with stunting. However, this association remains uncertain with wasting and being underweight.

Original title:
Association of Dietary Diversity With Growth Outcomes in Infants and Children Aged Under 5 Years: A Systematic Review by Gol RM, Kheirouri S and Alizadeh M.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35000681/

Additional information of El Mondo:
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