Using Nuclear Techniques to Assess the Role of Nutrition-Sensitive Agri-Food Systems in Improving Diet, Health and Nutritional Status of Vulnerable Populations

The proposed CRP will contribute to better understanding of the effect of nutrition-sensitive agri-food systems on the diet, health, and nutritional status of vulnerable populations. These findings will inform stakeholders influencing public health and agricultural policies in the design of effective interventions to combat malnutrition in all its forms. Malnutrition is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. It includes both undernutrition, especially among women and children, as well as overnutrition, leading to overweight and obesity. Improving health and nutrition of vulnerable populations will require not only direct “nutrition-specific” interventions, but also indirect “nutrition-sensitive” action addressing the underlying determinants of nutrition and inputs from multiple sectors. Nutrition-sensitive, biodiverse, and sustainable agri-food systems improve nutritional status through increased access to and consumption of high quality diets; however there is a need for further research in this area that includes rigorous design and appropriate measurement techniques for assessing health and nutritional impacts. Body composition divides weight into fat mass and fat-free mass and, compared to total body weight, will provide a more sensitive means of assessing changes in nutritional status in response to nutrition-sensitive agricultural interventions and changes in consumption. It can thus help to improve or optimize intervention strategies and understand the impact of dietary transitions. The deuterium dilution stable isotope technique, which will be used in this CRP, is among the most accurate techniques for assessing body composition. It involves the estimation of fat-free mass by measuring total body water (TBW) and provides reliable information on changes in body composition in individuals. This CRP will provide important information on the role of structural outcome measures such as body composition in understanding the link between agriculture and nutrition and in strengthening the evidence in support of nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies and practices. Studies to be included in this CRP may be stand-alone projects, or, perhaps more appropriately, build on existing research agendas (e.g. added on to a larger study). Doctoral students are encouraged to participate.