Funded Programs

A Consortium to Study the Impact of Micronutrient Supplementation and Probiotics for the Prevention and Management of Acute Childhood Diarrhea in Brazil

The Emory University School of Medicine is partnering with the Universidade Federal Da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, to build research capacity and foster collaboration for clinical trials, epidemiologic studies, and assessments of health policy in Brazil with the goal of improving childhood nutrition and reducing diarrheal disease in children. Diarrheal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally in children less than five years of age. Prolonged diarrhea, recurrent infections, and growth failure in developing countries are usually a consequence of micronutrient deficiencies including zinc. The primary goals of this collaborative global health project are: 1) to evaluate the effect of Bilofidobacterium lactis-supplemented infant formula on zinc intestinal losses in children six to 12-months of age who have been hospitalized with acute diarrhea; and 2) to evaluate the use of zinc sprinkles on supplement compliance rates and the incidence of recurrent diarrheal and respiratory illnesses. The study will be conducted at the Fima Lifshitz Metabolic Research Center at the Universidade Federal Da Bahia in Brazil. The results of this project will provide the foundation of a multidisciplinary collaborative research group focused on childhood nutritional epidemiology and diarrheal diseases.

For more information, contact:
Conrad R. Cole, MD, MPH, MSc
Assistant Professor
Emory University School of Medicine
Conrad_cole@oz.ped.emory.edu