CHALLENGES FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH Focus on Africa Patrick Kolsteren Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp

MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES Double burden MALNUTRITION UNDERNUTRITION OBESITY STUNTING WASTING MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

Black et al. Lancet 2008

NUTRITION FOR DEVELOPMENT Strong evidence that adequate nutrition in utero and in the first 2 years of life is essential for formation of human capital. Growth and development Disease and survival Long-term implications of under-nutrition adult human capital, height, school achievement, economic productivity and birth-weight of the offspring.

NUTRITION FOR DEVELOPMENT Underweight populations are more prone to negative effects of overweight and the adoption of diets and lifestyles of developed countries. Earlier and more type II diabetes More cardio-vascular risk More pronounced effects of obesity

CHALLENGE 1: SUPPORTING RELEVANT RESEARCH 99 % grants for “new solutions” that can reduce mortality by 22% 1 % for solutions that increase coverage that can reduce mortality by 66 % Leroy et al. American Journal of Public Health 2007

Articles other topics N=9563 Articles retrieved from pubmed and embase Total articles N = 10495 Vitamin A deficiency N=79 Included articles N = 72 Not Africa N=5 Duplicate N=2 Protein Energy Malnutrition N = 78 Not Africa N=3 Duplicate N=1 No abstract N=2 Obesity N = 298 N = 224 Not Africa N=51 Duplicate N=8 No abstract N=15 Breast feeding N = 366 N = 306 Not Africa N=26 Duplicate N= 11 No abstract N=20 Not relevant N=3 Nutritional status N = 322 N = 294 Not Africa N=25 Not relevant N=1 Articles other topics N=9563 Duplicates N= 860

NUTRITION RESEARCH IN AFRICA Type of research design Total n 967   Randomized controlled trial 8.4 Descriptive. cross sectional study 58.4 Cohort Study 13.4 Case Control study 7.7 Synthesis 10.0 Intervention study 0.7 Animal study 0.1 Food technology Isotope study Cohort with Control study 0.9 Pilot study

GEPHI –NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Publication analysis conclusions A lot of research is done Little cross border networking within the continent Duplication of research Lack of evidence base in general Evidence development does not address the “how can we improve the situation” rather quick fixes 10

CHALLENGE 2: PROVIDE A HEALTHY DIET IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY Population increase to 9-10 billion by 2050 70 % of arable land is used for animal production Food speculation Cereals or land for bio-fuel Water export Climatic changes and local stresses

A NEW FOCUS ON RESEARCH FOR DECISION MAKING Sustainability a key element Develop mechanisms to identify research questions from an African policy perspective. Knowledge centres Training of experts Create an African research fund to support evidence based decision making research

SUNRAY Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to come EU Funded project (2011-2013) www.sunrayafrica.co.za Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to come EU Funded project (2011-2013) www.sunrayafrica.co.za 13