A Practical Guide to Adjust Micronutrient Biomarkers for Inflammation Using the BRINDA Method

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Hanqi Luo, Emory University; Jiaxi Geng, Emory University; Madeleine Zeiler, Emory University; Emily Nieckula, Emory University; Fanny Sandalinas, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Anne Williams, Emory University; Melissa Young, Emory University; Parminder Suchdev, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-04-13
• Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Nutrition.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.016
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
• Volume: 153
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 1265
• End Page: 1272
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, HarvestPlus, and the United States Agency for International Development. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Keywords: BRINDA; Science & Technology; REFLECTING INFLAMMATION; FERRITIN; PLASMA; inflammation adjustment; software; Nutrition & Dietetics; TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR CONCENTRATIONS; NUTRITIONAL DETERMINANTS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; micronutrients; ANEMIA

Abstract

The Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) research group was formed over a decade ago to improve the interpretation of micronutrient biomarkers in settings with inflammation. The BRINDA inflammation adjustment method uses regression correction to adjust for the confounding effects of inflammation on select micronutrient biomarkers and has provided important insights to micronutrient research, policy, and programming. However, users may face challenges when applying the BRINDA inflammation adjustment methods to their own data due to varying guidance on the adjustment approach for different biomarkers and the need to develop statistical programming to conduct these analyses. This may result in lost opportunities to have results of micronutrient data readily available during critical decision-making periods. Our research objectives are to 1) provide an all-in-one summary of the BRINDA method in adjusting multiple micronutrient biomarkers for inflammation, 2) evaluate whether malaria as a binary variable should be included in the BRINDA inflammation adjustment method, and 3) present standardized and user-friendly BRINDA adjustment R package and SAS macro. This paper serves as a practical guidebook for the BRINDA inflammation adjustment approach and aids users to use the BRINDA R package and SAS to streamline their analyses.