An observational study in Nutritional Status, Micronutrient Status and Omega 3 Fat Status, sponsored by University of Copenhagen. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Bangladesh. Open to participants aged 5 Months to 27 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-06.
Sponsored by University of Copenhagen · Observational
This study aims to examine how societal and climate changes influence the nutritional status and fish consumption of young women over a 10 year period in southern Bangladesh, and how these factors affect their children's health. A cohort of 240 adolescents first studied in 2017 will be followed to assess changes in their dietary patterns, nutritional status, climate perceptions and mitigation practices, as well as the nutritional status of their children aged 6 months to 5 years.
The study in 2017 sampled 60 adolescent girls in each of four rural communities, plus a semi-rural community around a fish processing plant, representing in total 5 communities. Of these 60 X 5 = 300 girls, the current study follows up the individuals in the rural communities representing a cohort of 240.
Bangladesh faces high rates of adolescent malnutrition, with many girls married before 18 and suffering from chronic nutrient deficiencies. These issues have long-term impacts on health, productivity, and intergenerational well-being. By linking the fisheries and aquaculture sector, a key to Bangladesh's economy with public health and nutrition, this research aims to guide targeted policies for vulnerable coastal communities.
Aquatic foods are fundamental to the Bangladeshi diet, providing nearly two-thirds of total animal protein. Despite this, malnutrition remains a severe public health crisis with a complex etiology. Bangladesh faces a double burden of malnutrition, marked by persistently high rates of micronutrient deficiencies affecting roughly half of both pregnant and non-pregnant women alongside rising levels of overweight and obesity. These challenges are further exacerbated by substantial intrahousehold inequities in this patriarchal society. Disempowerment and early marriage disproportionately expose adolescent girls and young women to inadequate nutrient intake and poor health outcomes, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Furthermore, chronic undernutrition and stunting continue to affect a large proportion of children under five.
The problem is particularly acute in coastal communities, where climate change impacts such as salinity intrusion and extreme weather compromise food production and dietary diversity. Understanding and improving the dietary and nutritional status of adolescent girls and young women is therefore essential to breaking the cycle of poor health and ensuring long-term population well-being. Building on a 2017 study conducted with a cohort of 240 adolescents, this research aims to provide longitudinal insights into how nutritional status, female autonomy, aquatic food consumption, and dietary practices have influenced the health and well-being of these women and their children nearly after 10 years.
Hypotheses
Objectives
The study will be conducted in four distinct saline gradient agro-ecological zones across the shrimp-prawn farming regions of southwest Bangladesh, specifically in Fakirhat (Bagerhat District), Dumuria and Paikgacha (Khulna District), and Shyamnagor (Satkhira District).
University of Copenhagen is the lead sponsor of 450 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population is 240 young women who were studied as adolescents in 2017, now young women aged 22-26 years. If they have child aged 6 months to 5 years, the youngest child is included.
Exclusion Criteria:
The cohort of adolescent girls enrolled in 2017 at ages 12-16 will be followed up in 2026 to assess changes in their socioeconomic status, nutritional status, dietary intake, and women empowerment, and to examine how these factors are associated with the nutritional status of their children aged 6 months-5 years.
Other: The follow-up aims to evaluate natural changes occurring from adolescence to young adulthood with respect to the study objectives due to lifestyle and environmental factors, without any intervention.
There is no intervention
Omega-3 status
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Omega-3 status
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in whole blood (% of total fatty acid)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Vitamin D (total 25-hydroxyvitamin D) concentration in blood, nmol/L
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Hemoglobin concentration in blood (g/dL)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status
Ferritin concentration in blood (µg/L)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status
C-reactive protein concentration in blood (mg/L)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status
Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration in blood (g/L)
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Height (cm)
Time frame: One measurement between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Weight (kg)
Time frame: One measurement between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Mid-upper arm circumference (cm)
Time frame: One measurement between April and August 2026
Nutritional status
Body mass index (kg/m\^2)
Time frame: Between April and August 2026
Hair stable isotopes ratio
Isotope ratios of δ13C and δ15N in hair sample
Time frame: Between April 2026 to August 2026
Fish consumption
7 days recall, questionnaire
Time frame: Between April and August 2026
Climate change perception and mitigation practice
Climate change and mitigation practice, questionnaire
Time frame: Between April and August 2026
Women empowerment
Women empowerment will be obtained using women empowerment assessment tool, questionnaire.
Time frame: Between April and August 2026
Dietary pattern, food frequency
Dietary pattern by food groups, questionnaire
Time frame: Between April 2026 to August 2026
Child omega-3 status
If a woman has a child aged 6-59 months, the child is assessed for EPA concentration in blood (% of total fatty acids).
Time frame: One timepoint between April and August 2026
Child omega-3 status
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, the child is measured for DHA concentration in blood (% of total fatty acid)
Time frame: One measure between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, the child is measured for hemoglobin concentration in blood (g/L)
Time frame: April-August 2026
Micronutrient status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, ferritin concentration in blood (µg/L), will be measured.
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Micronutrient status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, Vitamin D (total 25-hydroxyvitamin D) concentration in blood, nmol/L will be measured.
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, the child's C-reactive protein concentration in blood (mg/L) will be measured.
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Inflammation status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6 months to 5 years, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration in blood (g/L) will be measured.
Time frame: One sampling point between April and August 2026
Nutritional status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6-59 months, the child's length/height (cm) is measured.
Time frame: Between April and August 2026
Nutritional status, Child
If the women has a child aged 6-59 months, the child is measured for weight (kg)
Time frame: April-August 2026
Nutritional status, Child
If the woman has a child aged 6-59 months, the child is measured for MUAC (cm)
Time frame: April-August 2026
Plan to share: No — According to the ethical approval, individual participant data cannot be shared with external parties and may only be obtained from the study coordinators upon reasonable request.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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