Preventing childhood malnutrition in developing countries is one step closer to reality thanks to a recent grant given to UC Davis researchers by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The $16 million grant will provide funding to test a lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS), a peanut butter-like paste filled with necessary nutrients and minerals. It will be distributed to malnourished children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, as well as breast-feeding and pregnant women in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Malawi.
“This is a huge, huge opportunity to solve this problem,” said Stephen Vosti, a professor in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics. “There are hundreds of millions of children that suffer drastically during these early years of their lives. We will hopefully demonstrate the effectiveness of this product.“
Vosti’s contribution to the project will include assessing household willingness to pay for supplements, making the products affordable, as well as distributing them to local food markets in developing nations.
The research will attempt to prevent malnutrition, whereas previous research focused only on curing it. Preventing malnutrition in the early years of a child’s life can save some from having serious health problems later, said Vosti, also a member of the Program in International and Community Nutrition.
“These kids, their brains are not developing as well as they should,” he said. “Their cognitive development is not as it should be. They are shorter, their linear growth is stunted. Both of these are sacrificed when kids don’t eat well after they are weaned.“
This substance differs from food bars because it has a lipid or fat base. It’s made from peanut butter, milk powder, vegetable oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals. It will be available in easy to transport pouches and will not require water, which in some developing countries can be contaminated.
“Unlike other semi-liquid foods, it has no water in it, and because of that it will not support the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms that could cause illness,“ said Kathryn Dewey, Project Director for the research. “The high fat content also provides essential fatty acids, which are important for immune function, cognitive development and growth.“
Ken Brown, a pediatrician and professor of nutrition and adviser to Helen Keller International, said that one similar study done in Ghana previously found that one daily 20 gram serving of LNS increased children’s rates of growth and motor development compared to children who did not receive the supplement.
Brown also mentioned the learning experience that graduate students will be able to receive during this five-year grant research.
“The research projects will also provide opportunities for graduate students to gain experience in community-based research in lower income countries and for foreign students to participate in doctoral level training post-graduate through the Program in International and Community Nutrition at UC Davis,” said Brown in an e-mail interview.
Vosti said that without this grant, research would not be possible. Brown agreed that the importance of this grant and research are vital to the global community.
“This award provides further validation of the global recognition of the achievements of UC Davis faculty members in the field of international nutrition,“ Brown said. “Our campus community should be proud of our university’s contributions to help control the problem of malnutrition globally.“
ANGELA RUGGIERO can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
