Table 3.
Unadjusted estimates from multilevel models testing RUSF interventions compared with baseline and washout values (where available)
|
RUSF-v |
RUSF-b |
RUSF combined |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coefficient (95% CI) | p value | Coefficient (95% CI) | p value | Coefficient (95% CI) | p value | |
| Aminoacids | ||||||
| Arginine, mmol/L | 53·72 (39·09 to 68·20) | <0·001 | 13·88 (3·05 to 24·60) | 0·008 | .. | .. |
| Citrulline, mmol/L | 4·08 (−4·87 to 13·88) | 0·41 | −11·93 (−19·84 to −3·29) | 0·008 | .. | .. |
| Ornithine, mmol/L | 47·69 (33·64 to 64·87) | <0·001 | 5·13 (−4·87 to 17·35) | 0·31 | .. | .. |
| Asymmetric dimethylarginine, mmol/L | −9·51 (−24·42 to −4·877) | <0·001 | −18·94 (−25·91 to −11·30) | <0·001 | .. | .. |
| Arginine to ornithine ratio | 3·05 (−3·92 to 10·51) | 0·40 | 7·25 (0 to 15·02) | 0·04 | .. | .. |
| Global arginine bioavailability ratio | 15·02 (9·42 to 20·92) | <0·001 | 15·02 (8·33 to 20·92) | <0·001 | .. | .. |
| Arginine to asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio | 85·89 (64·87 to 109·59) | <0·001 | 40·49 (24·60 to 58·40) | <0·001 | .. | .. |
| Endothelial function | ||||||
| Flow-mediated dilatation, %* | 0·92 (0·30 to 1·54) | 0·004 | 0·39 (−0·23 to 1·02) | 0·22 | 0·66 (0·15 to 1·17) | 0·011 |
| Brachial artery diameter at rest, mm | 0·03 (−0·01 to 0·07) | 0·14 | 0·09 (0·05 to 0·13) | <0·001 | 0·06 (0·03 to 0·09) | <0·001 |
| Baseline blood flow (VTI), m | 0·024 (0·007 to 0·041) | 0·007 | 0·043 (0·025 to 0·060) | <0·001 | 0·033 (0·019 to 0·047) | <0·001 |
| Absolute reactive hyperaemia, m | 0·03 (−0·01 to 0·07) | 0·12 | −0·04 (−0·01 to 0·08) | 0·039 | 0·034 (0·004 to 0·065) | 0·026 |
| Endothelium-independent vasodilatation | ||||||
| Response to glyceryl trinitrate, % | −0·04 (−0·44 to 0·37) | 0·85 | 0·04 (−0·37 to 0·44) | 0·86 | 0·00 (−0·33 to 0·33) | 0·99 |
| Blood markers | ||||||
| Haemoglobin, g/dL | 0·23 (0·12 to 0·34) | <0·001 | 0·35 (0·23 to 0·4) | <0·001 | 0·29 (0·20 to 0·37) | <0·001 |
| C-reactive protein, mg/L | 14·47 (−2·46 to 34·35) | 0·098 | 17·39 (−0·09 to 37·94) | 0·051 | 15·92 (1·684 to 32·15) | 0·027 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase, IU/L | 7·70 (2·44 to 13·23) | 0·004 | 5·10 (0·08 to 10·37) | 0·046 | 6·39 (2·21 to 10·73) | 0·002 |
| Total bilirubin, mg/dL | −12·20 (−19·72 to −3·98) | 0·004 | −4·0 (−12·25 to 5·02) | 0·37 | −8·19 (−14·66 to −1·23) | 0·022 |
| Non-conjugated bilirubin, mg/dL | −11·25 (−19·38 to −2·30) | 0·015 | −8·82 (−17·06 to 0·23) | 0·056 | −10·0 (−16·75 to −2·78) | 0·007 |
| Anthropometric measurements | ||||||
| Height-for-age Z-score | .. | .. | .. | .. | 0·013 (−0·002 to 0·028) | 0·081 |
| Weight-for-age Z-score | .. | .. | .. | .. | 0·070 (0·034 to 0·106) | <0·001 |
| Body-mass index-for-age Z-score | .. | .. | .. | .. | 0·091 (0·039 to 0·143) | 0·001 |
| Fat-free body mass | .. | .. | .. | .. | 0·14 (−0·25 to 0·31) | 0·094 |
| Body fat percentage | .. | .. | .. | .. | 0·27 (0·04 to 0·49) | 0·022 |
Estimates were assessed by use of natural log-transformed concentrations of aminoacids and blood component concentrations, except for haemoglobin; for these variables, estimates are the exponential and equivalent percentage change. RUSF=ready-to-use food supplement.
*
One extreme outlier value at baseline excluded.