Literature Review Matrix Template: Childhood Nutrition

Author Title/

Date

Objective/

Hypothesis

Methods

Results/Discussion

Study Limitations

Additional Notes

1.

Lundborg et al. Long-term effects of childhood nutrition: evidence from a school lunch reform. 2022

Test the relationship between a school lunch program and children’s economic, educational, and health outcomes.

Collected and digitized information on a school lunch program introduction from 265 municipalities in Sweden between 1959 and 1969.

Pupils exposed to the program had a 3% higher lifetime income.

Greater impact on learners exposed at earlier ages. Exposure to the lunch program also affected educational achievement and health significantly.

Study based on historical data on the rollout of a program between 1959 and 1969.

It cannot be generalized in countries with food security.

Improving childhood conditions for disadvantaged groups can have long-term benefits. Furthermore, countries should plan to improve the nutritional content of food served in schools to invest in the children’s long-run human capital.

2.

Taylor et al. Universal free school meal programs in Vermont show multi-domain benefits. 2020.

Test the influence of universal free school meals on various domains of child development.

Online survey (n-240) at 57 K-12 schools offering universal meals. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS (v. 23).

Universal free school meal programs correlated with better readiness to learn.

The programs improved the social climate by reducing stigmatization based on the family’s income level.

92% of participants recommended implementing universal meals in other schools.

A small sample from a single state.

Childhood nutrition is foundational to a country of healthy adults. Moreover, it is cheaper and economically efficient to budget for nutritional plans for children than to pay for a lifetime of high healthcare expenses due to malnutrition-related chronic illnesses.

3.

DiGirolamo et al. Early childhood nutrition and cognitive functioning in childhood and adolescence. 2020.

Analyze how early nutrition affects a child's cognitive development from birth to childhood, and adolescence.

The Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) Longitudinal Study was the theme of a literature review of 41 studies.

Motor development and cognitive function were favorably correlated with measures of early childhood nutritional intake and supplementation provided during pregnancy and the first two years of life.

Findings remained strong after controlling for sociocultural elements and schooling.

A relatively small sample.

Programs should address unmet nutritional needs among at-risk mothers and children to create a robust foundation for human cognitive development.

4.

Ford et al. exposure to improved nutrition from conception to age 2 years and adult cardiometabolic disease risk: a modelling study. 2018.

Test whether enhancement of early-life protein-energy diet can reduce the growth of cardiometabolic illness risk.

Follow-up study on n-1161 adults between 37 and 54 years.

The difference-in-difference technique was utilized to approximate the effect of one supplement relative to the other.

Generalized linear and logistic regression were models utilized.

Statistical analysis was done in SAS (v. 9.4) using the PROC GENMOD process.

Exposure to a protein-energy nutritional supplement (Atole) was linked to increased fatness, body fat, obesity, and minimum odds of diabetes.

Although the supplement declined the odds of diabetes, it raised the risk of obesity and various obesity-related conditions.

Findings are generalizable only to contexts of high childhood undernutrition and exposure to an obesogenic setting in adulthood.

Better nutrition from conception to the first two years of life enhances a child's survival, development, and mature human capital and reduces the risk of diabetes. But supplementing with protein and energy raises the danger of becoming obese.

5.

Iannotti et al. Eggs in early complementary feeding and child growth: a randomized controlled trial. 2017.

Hypothesis:  introducing eggs early during complementary feeding would advance child nutrition.

A randomized controlled trial of n-163 healthy infants aged 6 to 9 months.

Mixed methods data collection.

Generalized linear regression modeling and log-binomial models with robust Poisson were used.

Analyses were performed with Stata software (v. 13.1).

Egg intervention increased the length-for-age z score by 0.63 and the weight-for-age z score by 0.61.

Reduced stunting and underweight prevalence by 47% and 74%, respectively.

Baseline differences between the study groups.

Findings are not generalizable to other contexts due to background stunting occurrence and cultural acceptance.

Early egg introduction improved growth in young children. In addition, eggs can lower stunting since they are accessible to resource-poor groups.

6.

Jones et al. Association of nutrition in early childhood with body composition and leptin in later childhood and early adulthood. 2021

Analyze the relationship between early dietary consumption throughout childhood and adult obesity.

A sample of n=1432 children was studied prospectively.

Associations were modeled using adjusted linear regression.

Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS (v. 24).

Positive correlation between fat intake (% energy) at 18 months and fat mass at nine years. No association with serum leptin.

Fat intake at 18 months was positively linked to fat mass in boys at nine. In addition, fat intake was connected positively to serum leptin concentration in boys.

The study was conducted in one geographical location, limiting its generalizability.

Participants lost to follow-up, decreasing the data available at later time points.

Inability to measure diet intakes correctly.

Attrition causes over-representation of participants of greater socioeconomic prominence.

A high-fat diet in infancy may have repercussions for later childhood and adolescent obesity.

7.

Zalewski et al. nutrition of infants and young children (1-3 years) and its effects on later health: A systematic review of current recommendations. 2015.

In order to discover long-term impacts, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, examine established standards, proposals, instructions, and laws on the dietary of children from birth to age three.

A thorough analysis of 42 documents was done.

Breastfeeding was identified as a crucial dietary component for numerous health outcomes. For example, it was found to have a robust, sustained effect on cardiovascular health.

Restricting sodium intake, speedily absorbed carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, and trans fatty acids seemed beneficial.

Only documents written in English were reviewed, causing possible language bias.

Lack of critical appraisal tool used for guideline quality assessment.

Associations play a role in the evidence for the long-term consequences of early feeding.

Research on children's populations dietary are lacking.

Numerous nutrition features require further explanation, particularly concerning long-term effects.

8.

Patro-Gołąb et al. Nutritional interventions or exposures in infants and children aged up to three years and their effects on subsequent risk of overweight, obesity, and body fat: a systematic review of systematic reviews. 2016

Examine the relationship between nutritional treatments in children and the risk of obesity, overweight, and adiposity that follows.

40 systematic reviews were analyzed.

A little reduction in the threat of future overweight and obesity was found to be related to lactating.

The risk of future overweight and obesity was reduced by lowering the protein level of formula.

Overlapping data.

Uncomprehensive review since reviews were included only if they identified population and outcomes of interest clearly in the abstract.

Small sample size.

Clarity on the timing of an exposure and outcome appraisal is needed to differentiate instant consequences of dietary interventions from long-term and possibly programmed effects.

9.

Kuwahara and Eum. Effects of childhood nutrition education from school and family on eating habits of Japanese adults. 2022.

Test the link between nutrition education and adults’ outlooks on nutrition learning and eating habits.

Analysis of cross-sectional survey data from n=3000 aged over 20 years.

There was usage of the logistic regression model. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA (v. 14.0).

The attitudes of those who received nutrition instruction in elementary and middle schools were more favorable.

Family conversation on food in early years had an affirmative influence on nutritionally balanced eating conduct.

The study fails to consider the regional variances in nutritional education and learners’ attitudes.

Potential changes in nutrition education.

Differing levels and quality of education by age groups.

Instructions from teachers and family conversations about foods during elementary school influence attitude toward nutrition education and eating habits in adulthood.

10.

Alderman and Headey. How important is parental education for child nutrition? 2017.

Analyze the connection between parental involvement and the wellbeing of children.

Analysis of 376,992 preschoolers from n-56 countries where Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) were conducted.

It employed regression analysis.

Children of more educated parents consumed better-quality food.

Growing nutritional returns to maternal than paternal education.

The measure of higher education quality was gender- and primary-specific.

If school curricula directly emphasized improving future parents' health and knowledge, education may have a greater impact on the nutritional status of the following generation.