Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Dec;47(4):813-827.
doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2018.07.007. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

New Insights into the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Malnutrition

Grace E Thaxton  1 , Peter C Melby  2 , Mark J Manary  3 , Geoffrey A Preidis  4
Affiliations
Review

New Insights into the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Malnutrition

Grace E Thaxton et al. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

The volume of research into the pathogenesis and treatment of malnutrition has increased markedly over the past ten years, providing mechanistic insights that can be leveraged into more effective treatment options. These discoveries have been driven by several landmark studies employing metabolomics, metagenomics, and new preclinical models. This review highlights some of the most important recent findings, focusing in particular on the emerging roles of prenatal and perinatal factors, protein deficiency, impaired gut barrier function, immune deficiency, and the intestinal microbiome.

Keywords: Epigenetics; Immune deficiency; Intestinal microbiota; Perinatal; Prenatal; Protein deficiency; Therapeutic foods; Undernutrition.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Effects of malnutrition on liver structure and function.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Effects of malnutrition on intestinal function. Observations predominantly from clinical studies, although some mechanistic data are from preclinical models of malnutrition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group. Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition: UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates: Key findings of the 2017 edition. Geneva (Switzerland): UNICEF/WHO/World Bank; 2017.
    1. Black RE, Allen LH, Bhutta ZA, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet 2008;371(9608):243–60. - PubMed
    1. Guerrant RL, DeBoer MD, Moore SR, et al. The impoverished gut–a triple burden of diarrhoea, stunting and chronic disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 10(4):220–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. Guideline: updates on the management of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 2013. - PubMed
    1. Lenters LM, Wazny K, Webb P, et al. Treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition in low- and middle-income settings: a systematic review, meta-analysis and Delphi process. BMC Public Health 2013;13(Suppl 3):S23. - PMC - PubMed