The first 2 years of life is a critical period in life, when infants and young children require nutritious foods in addition to breast milk to support their growth, development, and long-term health. Research of the Institute for Global Nutrition examines complementary feeding practices, dietary diversity, and micronutrient adequacy across diverse cultural, economic, and environmental contexts and assesses the impact of interventions during this key period. Our studies also consider the double burden of malnutrition, addressing both undernutrition and the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. Evidence generated by the Institute for Global Nutrition informs international guidelines, programs, and policies aimed at improving child feeding practices and nutrition, reducing health inequities, and strengthening food and health systems to better support infants, young children, and their caregivers.
CoMIT
The Condiment Micronutrient Innovation Trial (CoMIT) project is testing the impact of fortified bouillon use, compared to that of control bouillon, on micronutrient status among women and young children in northern Ghana in a randomized, controlled trial.
Egg Interventions including Mazira
Our research group has been carrying out two closely related projects evaluating the effects of eggs provided early in complementary feeding.
SQ-LNS for Young Children
The International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS) Project (2008 to the present) is a research collaboration that grew out of a shared commitment to accelerate progress in preventing malnutrition, supported in part by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of California, Davis.