Current Research Activities

The legacy of Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw's seminal work on protein in the 1950's and 60's is continued through INF's research projects related to protein supply, quality and relationship to growth in developing countries.

The Lysine Project boys

Dr. Shibani Ghosh is the principle investigator in an ongoing series of trials investigating the effects of additional lysine in diets that are highly dependent on starchy staple crops such as wheat and maize. Lysine has been associated with reductions in diarrhea in children and upper respiratory infections and stress in adults in trials all over the world, including Bangladesh, China, Syria and Ghana. We have also found an association between protein quality of the diet and prevalence of stunting. To test this association further, the next step in the lysine studies is a large RCT in conjunction with partners from University of Ghana and Ajinomoto to look at the efficacy and effectiveness of a macronutrient-balanced complementary food supplement (that includes high quality protein) on linear growth and morbidity among children 6-24 months old in rural Ghana (a population with high rates of stunting).

Throughout the lysine studies, Ajinomoto Co, Inc. of Japan has been a valuable partner. Read more about Ajinomoto's involvement in the Ghana study on their website.

A list of publications that have come out of INF's recent lysine research can be found here.

Worldwide Quality Protein Supply and Potential of Protein Biofortification

Through a grant from the Gates Foundation and HarvestPlus, INF is researching protein supply at a national level and through actual dietary datasets to determine the adequacy and quality of protein supply and intake. Using this data we are examining the potential of protein biofortified staple crops (either conventially breed or genetically modified to contain higher levels of protein and/or amino acids) to alleviate protein malnutrition in at-risk populations.

Research abstracts and upcoming papers:

Modeling the potential of lysine biofortification of maize to improve protein quality and reduce risk of protein inadequacy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Devika Suri, Nicholas R. Strutt, Shibani Ghosh and Nilupa S. Gunaratna. Presented at Experimental Biology, Washington, D.C., April 9-13, 2011.
Evaluation of World Utilizable Protein and Lysine Supply and Estimation of Prevalence of Protein Inadequacy. S. Ghosh, D. Suri, N. S. Gunaratna and R. Uauy. Presented at the International Conference on Dietary Protein in Auckland, New Zealand, March 27-30, 2011.
Risk of inadequate utilizable protein is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Nilupa S. Gunaratna, Devika Suri, and Shibani Ghosh. Presented at the II World Congress on Public Health Nutrition, Porto, Portugal, September 23-25, 2010.

Protein and Stunting asf

Worldwide, 34% of children are moderately and severely stunted (UNICEF, State of the World’s Children 2010), which has significant implications for not only physical but cognitive development, affecting lifelong productivity. INF is investigating the relationship between protein quality and stunting in young children.

Research abstracts and upcoming papers:

Shibani Ghosh, Devika Suri and Ricardo Uauy. Assessment of Protein Adequacy in Developing Countries: Quality Matters. British J Nutr 2011. In Press.
Inadequate National Protein Supply is Associated with Prevalence of Stunting in Children under Five S. Ghosh, D. Suri, N. S. Gunaratna and R. Uauy. Accepted for poster presentation at the International Conference on Dietary Protein in Auckland, New Zealand, March 27-30, 2011.