Zinc Nutrition and Brain Development in Southern Ethiopia

描述（申请人提供）：本提案的目的是：[1]开发必要的资源，包括在埃塞俄比亚南部的埃布布大学或/和与之相关的人力资源，由科罗拉多大学健康科学中心和俄克拉荷马州州立大学合作支持，发起并维持一项将营养[微量营养素]与母婴大脑发育和功能联系起来的持久研究方案;[2]完成试点研究，为制定主要R 01赠款提案提供必要的基础，该提案旨在测试以下假设：在妊娠的第二和第三个三个月期间以及在前2年内为后代提供最佳量的生物可利用锌将与母亲认知和行为改善、新生儿头围增大[根据胎龄调整]以及在生命的前2年及以后注意力/习惯性/智力和运动发育改善相关。 这些目标将通过以下方式实现：在阿瓦萨和相关机构充分发展一个研究小组;在阿瓦萨举行一次初步规划、联合会建设和需求评估会议;支持在阿瓦萨大学与FWA建立一个IRB;在阿瓦萨、科罗拉多和俄克拉荷马州进行培训和交叉培训[营养和脑功能研究];在阿瓦萨对脑功能研究工具进行试点测试;试验性营养研究，包括：膳食、生物标志物和人体测量学评估;评估该特定人群的锌营养状况、锌吸收和锌需求;第二次计划会议，审查R 01提案的进展和计划细节;最后，根据从R21支持的预备/试验研究中获得的经验和知识，制定R 01提案。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objectives of this proposal are: [1] to develop the necessary resources, including human resources at or/and associated with Debub University, Southern Ethiopia, supported by collaborations with and between the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma State University, to initiate and sustain a durable research program linking nutrition [micronutrients] and maternal-child brain development and function; [2] to complete pilot studies that will provide an essential cornerstone for the development of a major R01 grant proposal that will be designed to test the following hypotheses: Provision of an optimal quantity of bioavailable zinc during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and to offspring through the first 2 years will be associated with improved maternal cognitive and behavioral; greater head circumference of neonate [adjusted for gestational age] and improved attention/habituation/intellectual and motor development throughout the first 2 years of life and beyond. These objectives will be achieved by: fully developing a research team in Awassa and associated institutions; an initial planning, consortium-building, needs assessment meeting in Awassa; supporting the development of an IRB with FWA at Debub University; training and cross-training [nutrition and brain function research] in Awassa, Colorado and Oklahoma; pilot testing of tools for studies of brain function in Awassa; pilot nutrition studies including: dietary, biomarker and anthropometrics assessment; assessment of zinc nutritional status, zinc absorption and zinc requirements for this particular population; a second planning meeting to review progress and plan details of R01 proposal; and, finally, the development of the R01 proposal based on the experience and knowledge acquired with this preparatory/pilot R21-supported research.