Biofortification with Zinc and Iron for Eliminating Deficiency in Pakistan (BiZIFED2)

巴基斯坦利用锌和铁进行生物强化以消除缺乏症 (BiZIFED2)

• 批准号: BB/S013989/1
• 负责人: Nicola Lowe
• 金额: $ 213.58万
• 依托单位: University of Central Lancashire
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FS013989%2F1
• 关键词: Biofortification; Zinc; Iron; Eliminating; Deficiency

Zinc and iron deficiencies are a global public health problem, with the greatest burden occurring in low and middle-income countries. In Pakistan, over 40% of women are zinc deficient and over 20% have iron deficiency anaemia. These micronutrient deficiencies have negative consequences for maternal and child health, and it is imperative that sustainable and cost-effective solutions are found.The project will investigate the potential of biofortification to reduce zinc and iron deficiencies in Pakistan. Biofortification is a process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through conventional plant breeding techniques and addition of nutrient-rich fertilisers. HarvestPlus has developed a variety of wheat with significantly greater zinc and iron concentrations, compared to standard varieties. Wheat is the staple crop in Pakistan and most families consume chapatis (made from wheat flour) with every meal. Therefore, we believe that biofortified flour may benefit communities who cannot afford to consume a diverse range of foods.The project has three main components, to be delivered over two years. The first component is a randomised controlled trial effectiveness study, to assess the impact of consuming biofortified flour on zinc and iron status. The participants will be 500 adolescent girls (aged 10-16 years) and 500 children (aged 1-5 years) living in a low-resource community in North West Pakistan. In phase 1 (months 1-6), the participants and their families will consume their usual locally purchased flour. The cost of the flour will be reimbursed as an incentive to participate in the study. In phase 2 (months 7-12), they will consume either biofortified flour (intervention group) or standard flour (control group), both of which will be grown locally. The participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group and they will not know which flour they are consuming (nor will the research team). A range of biochemical measures will be taken to assess the impact of consuming biofortified flour on zinc and iron status. We will also record the incidence of diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infections (in children), which are known to be associated with zinc deficiency.The second component focuses on understanding wheat growing conditions in Pakistan, and supporting farmers to improve the yield and grain quality of biofortified wheat. Variations in soil fertility and grain quality will be mapped across Punjab Province, where 80% of Pakistan's wheat is grown. Computer modelling techniques will be used to predict which soil properties (e.g. soil organic matter, fertility) and management options would lead to optimal zinc concentrations in the wheat grain. Cost-benefit analyses will be conducted for different scenarios, such as standard vs. biofortified wheat, addition of zinc fertilisers, improved soil organic inputs etc.The third component focuses on promoting the sustainable production and consumption of biofortified wheat in Pakistan. Mixed methods will be used to explore the views and perspectives of farmers (wheat producers) and community members (wheat flour consumers) to understand what factors influence their decisions to adopt biofortified wheat or not. Participants will be recruited from marginalised communities, who often have the poorest diets and may not access other types of nutrition interventions such as centralised flour fortification. The wheat market system in Pakistan will be mapped through consultations with a range of stakeholders. This information will be used to develop and pilot interventions to promote the sustainable production and consumption of biofortified wheat.As well as intensive communication activities with farmers and consumer, findings will be disseminated to researchers, policy makers, donors, world-wide, through a comprehensive Pathways-to-Impact activities.

锌和铁缺乏是一个全球公共卫生问题，负担最重的是低收入和中等收入国家。在巴基斯坦，40%以上的妇女缺锌，20%以上患有缺铁性贫血。这些微量营养素缺乏对孕产妇和儿童健康有负面影响，必须找到可持续和具有成本效益的解决方案。该项目将调查生物强化以减少巴基斯坦锌和铁缺乏的潜力。生物强化是通过常规植物育种技术和添加营养丰富的化肥来改善粮食作物的营养质量的过程。HarvestPlus已经开发出一种与标准品种相比，锌和铁含量明显更高的小麦品种。小麦是巴基斯坦的主要农作物，大多数家庭每顿饭都要吃沙帕特(由小麦面粉制成)。因此，我们认为，生物强化面粉可能会使那些负担不起各种食物消费的社区受益。该项目有三个主要组成部分，将在两年内交付。第一部分是随机对照试验有效性研究，以评估食用生物强化面粉对锌和铁状况的影响。参与者将是生活在巴基斯坦西北部一个低资源社区的500名少女(10-16岁)和500名儿童(1-5岁)。在第一阶段(1-6个月)，参与者及其家人将消费他们通常在当地购买的面粉。面粉的费用将得到报销，作为参与研究的激励。在第二阶段(7-12个月)，他们将食用生物强化面粉(干预组)或标准面粉(对照组)，这两种面粉都将在当地种植。参与者将被随机分配到干预组或控制组，他们不知道自己吃的是哪种面粉(研究小组也不知道)。将采取一系列生化措施来评估食用生物强化面粉对锌和铁状况的影响。我们还将记录腹泻和上呼吸道感染(在儿童中)的发病率，这是已知与缺锌有关的。第二部分侧重于了解巴基斯坦小麦的生长条件，并支持农民提高生物强化小麦的产量和谷物质量。将在旁遮普省绘制土壤肥力和谷物质量的变化图，巴基斯坦80%的小麦种植在该省。计算机模拟技术将被用来预测哪些土壤性质(如土壤有机质、肥力)和管理方案将导致小麦籽粒中锌的最佳浓度。成本效益分析将针对不同的情况进行，例如标准小麦与生物强化小麦、添加锌肥、改良土壤有机投入等。第三部分重点是促进巴基斯坦生物强化小麦的可持续生产和消费。将使用混合方法探讨农民(小麦生产者)和社区成员(小麦面粉消费者)的观点和观点，以了解哪些因素影响他们是否采用生物强化小麦的决定。参与者将从被边缘化的社区招募，他们的饮食往往最差，可能无法获得其他类型的营养干预措施，如集中式面粉强化。巴基斯坦的小麦市场体系将通过与一系列利益攸关方的协商来绘制。这些信息将用于开发和试点干预措施，以促进生物强化小麦的可持续生产和消费。除了与农民和消费者的密集交流活动外，还将通过全面的影响途径活动，将研究结果传播给世界各地的研究人员、政策制定者和捐赠者。

项目成果

Acceptability of zinc biofortified wheat and flour among farmers in Pakistan: experiences from the BiZiFED2 project

巴基斯坦农民对锌生物强化小麦和面粉的接受度：BiZiFED2 项目的经验

• DOI: 10.1017/s0029665122002117
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
• 影响因子: 7
• 作者: Ceballos-Rasgado M

Impact of consuming zinc-biofortified wheat flour on the growth and morbidity status of children aged 1-5 years: a cluster-randomised, double-blind, controlled trial

食用锌生物强化小麦粉对 1-5 岁儿童生长和发病状况的影响：整群随机、双盲、对照试验

• DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123003798
• 发表时间: 2024
• 期刊: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
• 影响因子: 7
• 作者: Gupta S

The Impact of Consuming Zinc-Biofortified Wheat Flour on Haematological Indices of Zinc and Iron Status in Adolescent Girls in Rural Pakistan: A Cluster-Randomised, Double-Blind, Controlled Effectiveness Trial.

• DOI: 10.3390/nu14081657
• 发表时间: 2022-04-15
• 期刊: Nutrients
• 影响因子: 5.9

Impact of consuming zinc-biofortified wheat flour on the growth and morbidity status of adolescent girls: a cluster randomised, double blind, controlled trial

食用锌生物强化小麦粉对青春期女孩生长和发病状况的影响：整群随机、双盲、对照试验

• DOI: 10.1017/s002966512200204x
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
• 影响因子: 7
• 作者: Gupta S

Farmers' and millers' experiences and attitudes towards the production and processing of zinc biofortified wheat in Pakistan: a mixed methods study.

• DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1158156
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
• 影响因子: 5
• 作者: Ceballos-Rasgado, Marena;Ajmal, Subhan;Mahboob, Usman;Ander, E. Louise;Zia, Munir;Moran, Victoria Hall;Joy, Edward J. M.;Zaman, Mukhtiar;Ohly, Heather;Lowe, Nicola M.
• 通讯作者: Lowe, Nicola M.