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

2. MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Double burden
MALNUTRITION
UNDERNUTRITION
OBESITY
STUNTING
WASTING
MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

3. Black et al. Lancet 2008

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. GEPHI –NUTRITIONAL STATUS

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. SUNRAY Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to come
EU Funded project ( )
Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to come
EU Funded project ( ) 13