Multi-Omic Profiling of a Zinc-Biofortified Maize Intervention in Guatemalan Mothers and Children

Crop-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Improved Gut Health and Nutrition

A trial evaluating the systemic and ecological impact of zinc-biofortified maize consumption on cellular zinc status, inflammatory biomarkers, and gut microbiota composition in a cohort of Guatemalan mothers and children.

This is a pilot study conducted among a subset of participants in a larger food aid intervention program using biofortified maize (N=499). This analysis focuses on a highly compliant cohort of 30 households (N=60 individuals) providing high-fidelity multi-omic data.

Household Inclusion Criteria:

• Reside in the target area (Chiquimula Department, Guatemala);
• Participating in the World Vision (WV) nutrition program;
• Families accustomed to consuming maize;
• Interest to participate in an informative session;
• Presence of at least one woman of reproductive age (18-49 years) and one index child (12-59 months);
• Access to a mobile phone; (7) No concurrent participation in other nutrition or food aid programs.

Household exclusion Criteria:

• Women with problems understanding the study informed consent and the study survey;
• Women with any acute or chronic disease that affected dietary intake or nutritional status;
• Children with acute malnutrition 4.Children with any acute or chronic disease that affected dietary consumption or nutritional status;
• Households that failed to adhere to the study protocol during the previous intervention period (e.g., sold the study maize or diverted it for animal feed).