Dietary Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Animal Protein Intake and Their Association to the Linear Growth Trajectory of Children from Birth to 24 Months of Age: Results From MAL-ED Birth Cohort Study Conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests lack of understanding of the association of specific nutrients with different time points of linear growth trajectory. Objective: We investigated the role of dietary macro- and micronutrients on length-for-age z (LAZ) score trajectory of children across first 24 months of their life. Methods: The MAL-ED Bangladesh birth cohort study recruited 265 healthy newborn children after birth. The linear growth trajectory of those children was modeled using latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) technique. Results: Dietary magnesium intake at 9 to 11 months was positively associated (coefficient β = 0.006, P < 0.00), and maternal height (β = 3.4, P