Project Grant 20236701739759

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES ARE IMPORTANT THREATS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH.IN OUR POPULATION-BASED COHORTS IN SOUTHERN INDIA, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A HIGH BURDEN OF ANEMIA AND MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES(INCLUDING IRON, FOLATE, ANDVITAMIN B12 )IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE, PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTS. IRON AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IS RECOMMENDED DURING PREGNANCY, FOR PREVENTION OF ANEMIA ANDADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES.HOWEVER, THE IMPACT OF MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATIONINTERVENTIONS ON OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTH IN CHILDREN,REMAINSA CRITICAL GAP FOR INFORMING FORTIFICATION GUIDELINES. WE ARE CONDUCTING ARANDOMIZED TRIAL TO EVALUATE THEEFFECTS OF MICRONUTRIENT-FORTIFIED SALT INTERVENTION ONANEMIA AND MICRONUTRIENT STATUS IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN1,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHERN INDIA OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD.WE PROPOSE TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF MICRONUTRIENT-FORTIFIED SALT ON ON ANEMIA AND OTHER HEALTH OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN WHO ARE ALREADY RECEIVING THIS HOUSEHOLD-BASED INTERVENTION.ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL USE METABOLOMICS TO EXAMINE MECHANISMS THAT CAN EXPLAIN THE EFFECTS OF THE MICRONUTRIENT-FORTIFIED SALT INTERVENTION ON HEALTH OUTCOMESIN CHILDREN.FINDINGS WILL ESTABLISH THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM CONSUMPTION OF MICRONUTRIENT-FORTIFIED FOODS ON CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES IN A POPULATION THAT DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE MANDATORY FORTIFICATION. THIS RESEARCH WILL GENERATE EVIDENCE TO INFORM FORTIFICATION PROGRAMS - AS LOW-COST STRATEGIES THAT REACH THE MOST AT-RISK POPULATIONS TO IMPROVE MICRONUTRIENT STATUS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES- BOTH IN THE U.S. AND GLOBALLY.