St. John’s Research Institute

	Iron bioavailability:
		With recent focus on poor iron absorption being one of the main factors in the high prevalence of iron deficiency in India and in other developing countries, we are currently studying iron bioavailability of indigenous foods using the dual stable isotope technique. In an effort to develop strategies to enhance iron absorption, the effect of enhancers and inhibitors of iron absorption are also being evaluated in both women and school age children. This work is in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

	Food based interventions to combat micronutrient deficiency:

		Food fortification of cereals and common spices with one or more micronutrients are
		sustainable approaches to combating micronutrient deficiency.

		We are currently testing the efficacy of dual fortified salt (fortified with iron and iodine)
		in improving iron status of school age children over a period of 10 months. This work is in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

		The effect of fortifying foods with ?-3 fatty acid and combinations of micronutrients,
		which are commonly deficient among children,

		Currently other interests include the mental and physical consequences of
		malnutrition

	Zinc nutrition in early life:
		Poor zinc status is associated with growth retardation and increased morbidity and mortality in low birth weight infants. This makes the role of zinc an important aspect in infant nutrition. The extent to which undernourished mothers maintain lactation capacity and zinc concentrations in breast milk to adequately feed the infant and ensure zinc homeostasis of their IUGR infants is still largely unknown.