Journals Information
Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 13(5), pp. 1198 - 1206
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130511
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Elevated Fecal Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) Levels in Stunted Children: Study in Agricultural Areas
Apoina Kartini 1,*, Suhartono Suhartono 2, Budiyono Budiyono 2, Yusniar Hanani Darundiati 2, Nur Endah Wahyuningsih 2, Alfan Afandi 3
1 Department of Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro University, Indonesia
2 Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro University, Indonesia
3 Public Health Doctoral Study Program, Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro University, Indonesia
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of stunting in agricultural areas is relatively high. Pesticide exposure can cause digestive tract inflammation known as environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), which interferes with nutrient absorption, resulting in impaired growth. Fecal Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a parameter to measure the presence of EED. The increase in fecal AAT levels in stunted children in agricultural areas is not yet known. This study aims to prove that the levels of fecal AAT in stunted children are higher than in normal children. This research is an observational study with a cross-sectional approach. The research location was in Dukuhlo Village, Brebes Regency, Indonesia, which is a shallot farming area with high pesticide use intensity, from April to July 2023. The subjects were 70 children aged 8-12 years (32 stunted and 38 normal). Measuring AAT levels in stool preparations was carried out using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Sandwich method. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, and chi-square. The stunting and normal groups differed in age (p=0.048), birth weight (p=0.048), and involvement of children in agricultural activities (p=0.041). Fecal AAT levels in stunted children (24.50 ng/ml) were higher than in normal children (13.05 ng/ml) (p=0.045). Children with fecal AAT levels 鈮�18.05 ng/mL have a 4.2 times higher risk of becoming stunted. There was an increase in fecal AAT levels in stunted children in agricultural areas.
KEYWORDS
Fecal Alpha-1-antitrypsin, Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED), Stunted, Children, Agricultural Area
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Apoina Kartini , Suhartono Suhartono , Budiyono Budiyono , Yusniar Hanani Darundiati , Nur Endah Wahyuningsih , Alfan Afandi , "Elevated Fecal Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) Levels in Stunted Children: Study in Agricultural Areas," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 1198 - 1206, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130511.
(b). APA Format:
Apoina Kartini , Suhartono Suhartono , Budiyono Budiyono , Yusniar Hanani Darundiati , Nur Endah Wahyuningsih , Alfan Afandi (2025). Elevated Fecal Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) Levels in Stunted Children: Study in Agricultural Areas. Universal Journal of Public Health, 13(5), 1198 - 1206. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130511.