# Low serum lipase levels in mothers of children with stunted growth indicate the possibility of low calcium absorption during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study in North Sumatra, Indonesia

## TL;DR

Low serum lipase in mothers of stunted children suggests poor calcium absorption during pregnancy, which may increase the risk of stunted growth in children.

## Contribution

This study links low maternal serum lipase levels to increased risk of stunted growth in children, suggesting a role in calcium absorption during pregnancy.

## Key findings

- Mothers of stunted children had significantly lower serum lipase levels compared to mothers of children with normal growth.
- Low serum calcium levels were observed in mothers of stunted children compared to those with normal growth.
- All study participants were found to be vitamin D deficient.

## Abstract

Stunting is caused by various factors, including low nutritional intake in the first two years of life. This study aimed to investigate the differences in sociodemographic factors and mineral, vitamin, and enzyme parameters in mothers associated with the occurrence of stunting in children. We conducted a cross-sectional study from September to November 2020 on North Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, birth history, food intake, and laboratory examinations, including measurements of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin D, pancreatic amylase, and serum lipase levels. This study included 50 healthy mothers aged 18–50 years old with children aged 2 to 60 months. There was a significant difference in serum calcium levels between the groups of mothers of children with normal and stunted growth (p = 0.03, mean difference±standard error (SE) = 0.23±0.12, 95% CI: 0.19–0.45). All of the study subjects were categorized as vitamin D deficient. The mean lipase level in the group of mothers of children with stunted growth was significantly lower than that in the group of mothers of children with normal growth (p = 0.02, mean difference±SE = 4.34±1.83, 95% CI: 0.62–8.06). The conclusion was that serum lipase levels were significantly lower in mothers of children with stunted growth compared to mothers of children with normal growth. Serum lipase levels this low are likely to indicate that a mother is unable to meet her child’s calcium needs during pregnancy, increasing the child’s risk of stunted growth.