Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
BMJ Open. 2024 Apr 28;14(4):e084257. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084257.
In Sidama, Ethiopia, animal-source foods can be difficult to access. Milk has important nutrients for child growth, but carries the risk of aflatoxin M (AFM) contamination. AFM is a metabolite of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B (AFB) in dairy feed; cows secrete AFM in milk when their feed contains AFB produced by fungi in maize, nuts and oilseeds. It is unknown whether AFM compromises child growth and health.
This protocol paper describes our study in Sidama to determine the impact of milk consumption and AFM on child growth in the first 18 months of life. We will collect baseline and end-line data on dairy production, socioeconomic and nutritional factors of 1000 dairy-owning households with children ages 6-18 months at baseline; and gather samples of milk and dairy feed and child anthropometrics. We will conduct phone interviews every 6 months to ascertain changes in practices or child health. Dairy feed will be tested for AFB; milk for AFM, pathogens and nutrients. Controlling for herd size, socioeconomic, nutritional and behavioural factors, we will determine the association between child anthropometrics and milk consumption, as well as AFM exposure. We will examine whether AFM exposure affects child growth in the first 18 months of life, and weigh the benefits and risks of milk consumption.
The protocol is approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI-IRB-481-2022), Michigan State University (STUDY00007996) and International Food Policy Research Institute (DSGD-23-0102). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants, who may withdraw from the study at any time. Confidentiality of collected data will be given high priority during each stage of data handling. The study's findings will be disseminated through stakeholder workshops, local and international conferences, journal articles and technical reports.
在埃塞俄比亚的 Sidama，动物源食品难以获取。牛奶含有儿童生长所需的重要营养物质，但存在黄曲霉毒素 M（AFM）污染的风险。AFM 是奶牛饲料中真菌产生的黄曲霉毒素 B（AFB）的代谢物；当奶牛饲料中含有 AFB 时，奶牛会在牛奶中分泌 AFM。目前尚不清楚 AFM 是否会影响儿童的生长和健康。
本研究方案描述了我们在 Sidama 的研究，旨在确定牛奶消费和 AFM 对 6-18 月龄儿童生命最初 18 个月生长的影响。我们将收集 1000 户有 6-18 月龄儿童的奶牛养殖家庭的基线和终线数据，内容包括奶制品生产、社会经济和营养因素；并收集牛奶和奶牛饲料样本以及儿童人体测量数据。我们将每 6 个月进行一次电话访谈，以确定实践或儿童健康状况的变化。将对奶牛饲料进行 AFB 检测；对牛奶进行 AFM、病原体和营养物质检测。在控制畜群规模、社会经济、营养和行为因素的情况下，我们将确定儿童人体测量数据与牛奶消费以及 AFM 暴露之间的关联。我们将研究 AFM 暴露是否会影响儿童生命最初 18 个月的生长，并权衡牛奶消费的益处和风险。
该方案已获得埃塞俄比亚公共卫生研究所（EPHI-IRB-481-2022）、密歇根州立大学（STUDY00007996）和国际粮食政策研究所（DSGD-23-0102）的机构审查委员会的批准。将向所有参与者书面告知并获得知情同意，他们可以在任何时候退出研究。在数据处理的每个阶段都将高度重视收集数据的保密性。研究结果将通过利益相关者研讨会、地方和国际会议、期刊文章和技术报告进行传播。
