Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study
IntroductionThis protocol outlines the Proyecto Guagua, which aims to explore the relationship between the characteristics of the gut microbiota, parasitic infections, nutritional status, and neurocognitive functioning in school-age children in Ecuador.Methods and analysisProyecto Guagua is a cross-...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| author | Sandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias Renata Alejandra Alvarado-Barba Cristina Gabriela Ríos-Romero Pamela Vinueza-Veloz Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Ruth Irene Arias-Gutiérrez Manuel Pérez-Quintana Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz |
| author_facet | Sandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias Renata Alejandra Alvarado-Barba Cristina Gabriela Ríos-Romero Pamela Vinueza-Veloz Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Ruth Irene Arias-Gutiérrez Manuel Pérez-Quintana Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz |
| author_sort | Sandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis protocol outlines the Proyecto Guagua, which aims to explore the relationship between the characteristics of the gut microbiota, parasitic infections, nutritional status, and neurocognitive functioning in school-age children in Ecuador.Methods and analysisProyecto Guagua is a cross-sectional observational study funded by the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. It is being carried out in several counties across different geographical regions in Ecuador, including Galápagos. The study targets children regularly attending school, aged 6–12. We aim to recruit 450 children, with data already collected from nearly 300 participants (67%). Enrolled children undergo comprehensive evaluations assessing nutritional status, body composition, motor learning, social skills, cognitive ability, sleep habits, and physical activity. Caretakers and school teachers are interviewed regarding hygiene, eating habits, and food handling. Stool samples are collected to analyze the gut microbiota and determine the presence of parasites. In the analysis phase, we aim to describe differences in microbiota population structure and diversity among undernourished and obese/overweight children, and children with parasitosis compared to their peers. We also plan to test the hypothesis that an altered microbiota mediates the influence of malnutrition on neurocognitive functioning and parasitosis.Ethics and disseminationProyecto Guagua received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Universidad de Cuenca in July 2022. Following the pilot phase, an addendum and minor changes to the study design were approved in October 2022. Written consent was obtained from parents before enrolling their children in the study. Parents and children were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time. The findings of “Proyecto Guagua” will be disseminated through open-access, peer-reviewed publications and presented at local and international scientific events. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f5666de91fa4933ab614ff281be4107 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f5666de91fa4933ab614ff281be41072025-01-29T13:23:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15057801505780Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional studySandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa0Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias1Renata Alejandra Alvarado-Barba2Cristina Gabriela Ríos-Romero3Pamela Vinueza-Veloz4Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos5Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos6Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova7Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova8Ruth Irene Arias-Gutiérrez9Manuel Pérez-Quintana10Henk-Jan Boele11Henk-Jan Boele12Henk-Jan Boele13María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz14Carrera de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición Humana (GIANH), Facultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición Humana (GIANH), Facultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición Humana (GIANH), Facultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias (GICV), Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorGraduate College, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United StatesCenter for Nutrition and Health Impact, Omaha, NE, United StatesCarrera de Medicina, Facultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorCarrera de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Salud Pública, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, EcuadorDepartment of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands0Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States1BlinkLab Ltd., Sydney, NSW, Australia2Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayIntroductionThis protocol outlines the Proyecto Guagua, which aims to explore the relationship between the characteristics of the gut microbiota, parasitic infections, nutritional status, and neurocognitive functioning in school-age children in Ecuador.Methods and analysisProyecto Guagua is a cross-sectional observational study funded by the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. It is being carried out in several counties across different geographical regions in Ecuador, including Galápagos. The study targets children regularly attending school, aged 6–12. We aim to recruit 450 children, with data already collected from nearly 300 participants (67%). Enrolled children undergo comprehensive evaluations assessing nutritional status, body composition, motor learning, social skills, cognitive ability, sleep habits, and physical activity. Caretakers and school teachers are interviewed regarding hygiene, eating habits, and food handling. Stool samples are collected to analyze the gut microbiota and determine the presence of parasites. In the analysis phase, we aim to describe differences in microbiota population structure and diversity among undernourished and obese/overweight children, and children with parasitosis compared to their peers. We also plan to test the hypothesis that an altered microbiota mediates the influence of malnutrition on neurocognitive functioning and parasitosis.Ethics and disseminationProyecto Guagua received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Universidad de Cuenca in July 2022. Following the pilot phase, an addendum and minor changes to the study design were approved in October 2022. Written consent was obtained from parents before enrolling their children in the study. Parents and children were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time. The findings of “Proyecto Guagua” will be disseminated through open-access, peer-reviewed publications and presented at local and international scientific events.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1505780/fullmalnutritionEcuadorchildrenneurocognitive abilitiesparasitic infectionmotor learning |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Victoria Abril-Ulloa Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias Renata Alejandra Alvarado-Barba Cristina Gabriela Ríos-Romero Pamela Vinueza-Veloz Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Igor Eduardo Astudillo-Skliarova Ruth Irene Arias-Gutiérrez Manuel Pérez-Quintana Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele Henk-Jan Boele María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study Frontiers in Public Health malnutrition Ecuador children neurocognitive abilities parasitic infection motor learning |
| title | Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Microbiota, parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from Ecuador—Proyecto Guagua: research protocol for a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | microbiota parasitic infections and their relationship with nutritional status and neurocognitive functioning in children from ecuador proyecto guagua research protocol for a cross sectional study |
| topic | malnutrition Ecuador children neurocognitive abilities parasitic infection motor learning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1505780/full |
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