Thiamine Concentration in Human Milk Is Correlated With Maternal and Infant Thiamine Status: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Lao Thiamine Study.

The human milk content of some micronutrients including thiamine depends on maternal status, and if low, breastfed infants are at risk of deficiency. Thiamine deficiency remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among infants in Asia. We aimed to explore correlations between maternal thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) or erythrocyte transketolase activation coefficient (ETKac) and human milk thiamine concentration (MTh) and between MTh and infant ThDP or ETKac among breastfed infants < 6 months of age in northern Lao PDR.

Relationship between lactate and thiamine-responsive disorders in hospitalised infants and children in Lao PDR: secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Background: Lactate is a by-product of thiamine-deficient cellular metabolism, and hyperlactataemia can indicate severe illness. However, little is known about the clinical significance of hyperlactataemia in thiamine deficiency disorders.

Aim: To describe the relationship between whole-blood lactate level and thiamine-responsive disorders (TRDs) in children with signs/symptoms of thiamine deficiency in a high-risk region.

Assessment of Erythrocyte Transketolase, Whole Blood Thiamine Diphosphate, and Human Milk Thiamine Concentrations to Identify Infants and Young Children Responding Favorably to Therapeutic Thiamine Administration: Findings from the Lao Thiamine Study, a Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: There is limited information on relationships among biomarkers of thiamine status (whole blood thiamine diphosphate [ThDP], erythrocyte transketolase activity coefficient [ETKac], and human milk thiamine [MTh]) and clinical manifestations of thiamine deficiency.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore correlations among these biomarkers and thiamine responsive disorders (TRDs), a diagnosis based on favorable clinical response to thiamine.

Methods: Hospitalized infants and young children (aged 21 d to <18 mo) with respiratory, cardiac, and/or neurological symptoms suggestive of thiamine deficiency were treated with parenteral thiamine (100 mg daily) for ≥3 d alongside other treatments and re-examined systematically.

A Predictive Model for Thiamine Responsive Disorders Among Infants and Young Children: Results from a Prospective Cohort Study in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Objective: To develop a predictive model for thiamine responsive disorders (TRDs) among infants and young children hospitalized with signs or symptoms suggestive of thiamine deficiency disorders (TDDs) based on response to therapeutic thiamine in a high-risk setting.

Study Design: Children aged 21 days to <18 months hospitalized with signs or symptoms suggestive of TDD in northern Lao People's Democratic Republic were treated with parenteral thiamine (100 mg daily) for ≥3 days in addition to routine care. Physical examinations and recovery assessments were conducted frequently for 72 hours after thiamine was initiated.

Risk factors for anaemia among women and their young children hospitalised with suspected thiamine deficiency in northern Lao PDR.

Anaemia among women and young children remains a major public health concern. This secondary study describes the anaemia prevalence among young hospitalised children and their mothers in northern Lao People's Democratic Republic and explores possible nutritional causes and risk factors for anaemia. Hospitalised children (ages 21 days to <18 months) with clinical symptoms suggestive of thiamine deficiency disorders were eligible along with their mothers.

Nutrition and health-seeking practices during pregnancy and lactation and potential strategies to increase micronutrient intakes among women in northern Lao PDR.

Access to and utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) is important for optimising health and nutrition during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess adherence to and factors associated with ANC and antenatal supplement use among Laotian women, and consider culturally appropriate strategies to increase micronutrient intakes. Mother-child (aged 21 d to <18 months) dyads ( 699) enrolled in a hospital-based prospective cohort study with the community comparison group in Luang Prabang province were interviewed about their antenatal history, supplement use, household sociodemographic and dietary practices, including postpartum food avoidances.

Traditional prenatal and postpartum food restrictions among women in northern Lao PDR.

Culturally determined food restrictions are common among pregnant and postpartum women in Asia. This study aimed to describe perinatal dietary restrictions, factors associated with food avoidances and attainment of minimum dietary diversity (MDD-W) among women in Lao PDR. Mother-child (aged 21 days to <18 months) dyads (n = 682) were enrolled into a cohort study in northern Lao PDR and interviewed at one time point postpartum.

Effects of therapeutic zinc supplementation for diarrhea and two preventive zinc supplementation regimens on the incidence and duration of diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infections in rural Laotian children: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. This individually randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effects of different zinc supplementation regimens on the incidence and duration of diarrhea and acute lower (ALRI) and upper (AURI) respiratory tract infections among rural Laotian children. The study included 3407 children, 6-23 months at enrollment.

Establishing a case definition of thiamine responsive disorders among infants and young children in Lao PDR: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Diagnosis of infantile thiamine deficiency disorders (TDD) is challenging due to the non-specific, highly variable clinical presentation, often leading to misdiagnosis. Our primary objective is to develop a case definition for thiamine responsive disorders (TRD) to determine among hospitalised infants and young children, which clinical features and risk factors identify those who respond positively to thiamine administration.

Methods And Analysis: This prospective study will enrol 662 children (aged 21 days to <18 months) seeking treatment for TDD symptoms.

Effects of Daily Zinc, Daily Multiple Micronutrient Powder, or Therapeutic Zinc Supplementation for Diarrhea Prevention on Physical Growth, Anemia, and Micronutrient Status in Rural Laotian Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the optimal zinc supplementation strategy for improving growth and hematologic and micronutrient status in young Laotian children.

Study Design: In total, 3407 children aged 6-23 months were randomized to receive either daily preventive zinc tablets (7 mg/d), high-zinc, low-iron micronutrient powder (10 mg/d zinc, 6 mg/d iron, and 13 other micronutrients), therapeutic zinc supplementation for diarrhea (20 mg/d for 10 days per episode), or daily placebo powder; all were followed for ~9 months. Anthropometry, hemoglobin, zinc, and iron status were assessed at baseline and endline.