GCFI

The Global Cereal Fortification Initiative (GCFI) involves a group of academic and private sector institutions working closely with the International Nutrition Foundation in the area of protein and amino acid research. Through work conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and St. John’s College, India, quantitative requirements for specific amino acids such as lysine have been identified. Findings from this work have been incorporated in the setting of amino acid requirements by a joint WHO/FAO/UNU expert consultation on protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition. 

GCFI has also worked in Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and Syria, with ongoing work in Ghana, to examine the efficacy of lysine fortification or supplementation on health, morbidity, and stress in adults and children.  The following publications provide greater insight into this area.

Ghosh S.,  Pellett P.L., Aw-Hassan A., Mouneime Y, Smriga M., and Scrimshaw N. Impact of lysine fortified wheat flour on morbidity and immune parameters in individuals belonging to rural families in North West Syria. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 29 (3): 163-171.

Ghosh S., Ahmed T., Vuvor F., Qadri F., Larson C., Shariq A and Mohammed H. Lysine and diarrheal morbidity: comparing results from Syria, Bangladesh and Ghana. To be presented at Novel Aspects of Amino Acid Effects on Human Nutrition and Health. The Third African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference, 13-16 October 2008, Cairo, Egypt.

Ghosh S., Vuvor F., and Mohammed H. Health and morbidity status of women and children living in peri-urban areas of Greater Accra, Ghana. Submitted to the Third African Nutrition Epidemiology Conference, 13-16 October 2008, Cairo, Egypt.

Hussain T., Abbas S., Khan M.A. and Scrimshaw N.S. 2004. Lysine fortification of wheat flour improves nutritional status of predominantly cereal-eating families in Pakistan.  Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 25: 123-129.

Smriga M., Ghosh S., Mouneime Y., Pellett P.L. and Scrimshaw N.S. 2004. Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in North West Syria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101 (22): 8285-8288.

Zhao W., Zhai F., Zhang D., An Y., Liu Y., He Y., Ge K. and Scrimshaw N.S. 2004. Lysine fortified wheat flour improves the nutritional and immunologicalstatus of wheat eating families in Northern China.  Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 25: 114-122.