Nutrition, Growth and Metabolism

This programme is premised on the ‘life course epidemiology of chronic non-communicable disease’ conceptual framework. This posits that chronic disease risks are modulated, or are aetiologically-related to physical, biological and social exposures during gestation, infancy, childhood, adolescent and young adult-hood. The research takes into account an understanding of the natural history and physiological trajectory of normal biological systems. It seeks to define the biological factors, primarily nutritional and metabolic, that contribute to the variability in growth as well as body composition, as well as the risks for non-communicable chronic diseases, and cognition.


Projects

  • The effect of early life and emerging factors on growth in Jamaican Children
  • Using stable isotope technique to establish reference body composition data for children, aged 6 months to 26 months, in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Bioavailability of amino acids from the common bean in Jamaican diets
  • Assessment of risk factors for childhood obesity and the impact of an educational intervention on infant feeding on growth and body composition: A co-ordinated Research Project
  • Effect of zinc on body composition and antioxidant status in the elderly.
  • Improving the quality of life of older people through the early diagnosis of sarcopenia in Latin America & the Caribbean- a regional project.