Hossain, Md. IqbalHaque, RashidulMondal, DineshMahfuz, MustafaAhmed, A.M. ShamsirIslam, M. MunirulGuerrant, Richard L.Petri, William A.Ahmed, Tahmeed2026-08-122026-08-122016-12-01Hossain MI, Haque R, Mondal D, Mahfuz M, Ahmed AS, Islam MM, et al. (2016) Undernutrition, Vitamin A and Iron Deficiency Are Associated with Impaired Intestinal Mucosal Permeability in Young Bangladeshi Children Assessed by Lactulose/Mannitol Test. PLoS ONE 11(12): e0164447. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164447193262032-s2.0-84999633544https://hdl.handle.net/10361/28964Background: Lactulose/mannitol (L:M) test has been used as a non-invasive marker of intestinal mucosal-integrity and -permeability (enteropathy). We investigated the association of enteropathy with anthropometrics, micronutrient-status, and morbidity in children. Methods: The urine and blood samples were collected from 925 children aged 6±24 months residing in Mirpur slum of Dhaka, Bangladesh during November 2009 to April 2013. L:M test and micronutrient status were assessed in the laboratory of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) following standard procedure. Results: Mean±SD age of the children was 13.2±5.2 months and 47.8% were female. Urinary-lactulose recovery was 0.264±0.236, mannitol recovery was 3.423±3.952, and L:M was 0.109 ±0.158. An overall negative correlation (Spearman's-rho) of L:M was found with age (rs = -0.087; p = 0.004), weight-for-age (rs = -0.077; p = 0.010), weight-for-length (rs = -0.060; p = 0.034), mid-upper-arm-circumference (rs = -0.098; p = 0.001) and plasma-retinol (rs = -0.105; p = 0.002); and a positive correlation with plasma α-1-acid glycoprotein (rs = 0.066; p = 0.027). However, most of the correlations were not very strong. Approximately 44% of children had enteropathy as reflected by L:M of ≥0.09. Logistic regression analysis revealed that younger age (infancy) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.35; p = 0.027), diarrhea (AOR = 4.00; p = 0.039) or fever (AOR = 2.18; p = 0.003) within previous three days of L:M test were the risk factors of enteropathy (L:M of ≥0.09). Conclusions: Enteropathy (high L:M) is associated with younger age, undernutrition, low vitamin A and iron status, and infection particularly diarrhea and fever.10 pagesen-UStrueBangladeshCell membrane permeabilityChildPreschoolDiarrheaFemaleFeverHumansInfantIntestinal absorptionIntestinal MucosaIronIron metabolism disordersLactuloseMaleMalnutritionMannitolVitamin AMalnutrition in children--Bangladesh.Children health and hygiene--Bangladesh.Iron deficiency anemia in children--Bangladesh.Vitamin A deficiency in children.Gastrointestinal mucosa--Pathophysiology.Mannitol.Lactulose--Therapeutic use.Article10.1371/journal.pone.0164447