IMMPaCt Research Activities
Photo Credit: UNICEF Ghana
Objective
Enhance the evidence base of micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) programs to improve their effectiveness and guide global policies
Background
The work of CDC’s International Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control (IMMPaCt) program provides unique opportunities to increase the evidence base of vitamin and mineral programs. CDC focuses on assessing micronutrient interventions implemented by various partners in real-world settings, monitoring, surveillance and developing technical resources and global guidance. This provides the opportunity to examine important questions related to assessments and intervention effectiveness.
Activities
CDC has provided technical assistance for countries to carry out effectiveness studies and randomized control trials. Also, special studies are occasionally embedded within national micronutrient surveys, laboratory biomarker studies, and secondary data analysis of national survey datasets.
The priority research areas are:
- Program effectiveness and safety of home fortification and infant and young child feeding interventions.
- Impact of large-scale fortification programs for staple foods/condiments.
- Program effectiveness of micronutrient supplementation on nutritional status, illness, growth and/or cognition.
- Models and methods to implement and improve monitoring and surveillance.
- Validity, reliability, and use of nutritional biomarkers.
Potential Impact
The results of CDC research will help guide global policy, increase effectiveness of micronutrient interventions, and improve the use of biomarkers in vitamin and mineral assessments.
For examples of published research items, see the bibliography of research published by CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity staff.
