Despite significant progress in the fight against malnutrition, large populations in low- and middle-income countries are suffering from hunger and micronutrient deficiencies(Reference Stevens, Finucane and Paciorek1). In various African countries and populations of low socio-economic strata worldwide, additional and better-targeted efforts are needed to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition. Against this backdrop, diet-related chronic diseases are expanding rapidly and require urgent attention(Reference Lim, Vos and Flaxman2). In addition, emerging environmental threats such as climate change, population growth, changing social structures and deterioration of natural resources and livelihoods will require new ways of thinking to mitigate the impact on nutritional status.
Fortunately, as explained in an accompanying editorial by Anna Lartey – incoming President for the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) – in the current issue, there presently is a considerable amount of attention on nutrition in low- and middle-income countries. To mention just a few, the launch of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, the organization of the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases and the G8 meetings during the past years are important events that have placed nutrition at the centre stage of international development.
As this month's issue of Public Health Nutrition illustrates, there is no lack of nutrition research from low- and middle-income countries. Research findings from several regions of the world are included; i.e. Africa: Senegal(Reference Garenne, Maire and Fontaine3), Uganda(Reference Baingana, Matovu-Kasozi and Garrett4, Reference Muhangi, Lule and Mpairwe5), Mozambique(Reference Korkalo, Erkkola and Fidalgo6, Reference Nhampossa, Sigaúque and Machevo7), Mali(Reference Gewa, Leslie and Pawloski8), Sudan(Reference Medani, Elnour and Saeed9), Kenya(Reference Neumann, Bwibo and Jiang10–Reference Adongo, Shell-Duncan and Prisca13) and South Sudan(Reference Tappis, Doocy and Paul14); Asia: Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia(Reference Lipoeto, Geok and Angeles-Agdeppa15), India(Reference Deb, Biswas and Ghose16–Reference Aguayo, Paintal and Singh18), Pakistan(Reference Rahman, Rahman and Ahmed19) and Sri Lanka(Reference Katulanda, Jayawardana and Ranasinghe20); the Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago(Reference Sheehy and Sharma21); and Latin America: Colombia(Reference Garcia, Sarmiento and Forde22). This research reflects the wide range of nutritional issues that low- and middle-income countries face, i.e. the prevention and management of diet- and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases(Reference Lipoeto, Geok and Angeles-Agdeppa15, Reference Veena, Krishnaveni and Karat17, Reference Katulanda, Jayawardana and Ranasinghe20, Reference Sheehy and Sharma21), nutritional deficiencies(Reference Baingana, Matovu-Kasozi and Garrett4, Reference Muhangi, Lule and Mpairwe5, Reference Nhampossa, Sigaúque and Machevo7–Reference Macharia-Mutie, Omusundi and Mwai11, Reference Adongo, Shell-Duncan and Prisca13, Reference Deb, Biswas and Ghose16, Reference Rahman, Rahman and Ahmed19) or a combination of both(Reference Sheehy and Sharma21). Other papers focus on food security(Reference Tappis, Doocy and Paul14), programme evaluation(Reference Havemann, Pridmore and Tomkins12, Reference Aguayo, Paintal and Singh18) or on methodological issues such as the assessment of anthropometry(Reference Garenne, Maire and Fontaine3) or dietary intake(Reference Korkalo, Erkkola and Fidalgo6).
Importantly, in the vast majority of these papers, the leading author is associated with an institution based in low- and middle-income countries. Home-grown research is essential to address nutrition in low- and middle-income countries as it generates contextual knowledge for policy makers to take action. It is essential to help policy makers make an informed decision for political action. It is important that this process is rationalized to save valuable resources, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where funding and capacity are stretched(Reference Mckee, Stuckler and Basu23). Recent initiatives from the SUNRAY project(24) and The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science(25) are a significant start to guide nutrition research in low- and middle-income countries. However, they will require further appropriation in the research community, in particular those working in low- and middle-income countries. An important way to get the priorities right will be to link nutrition researchers with their policy makers and other stakeholders to define a research agenda.
The time is ripe to reflect on the role of nutrition research in international development and policies. Public Health Nutrition will continue to publish papers about nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, and from researchers in those countries, and we will continue to serve as a forum for developing ideas to link nutrition research to programmes and policies. Beyond the role that our and other journals can play, we note that for the first time since its creation in 1946, the IUNS will be led by an African scientist. This is important, as the IUNS is the highest body to advocate for nutrition research globally. The upcoming joint FAO/WHO Second International Conference on Nutrition and the 2013 IUNS congress in Granada will mobilize a large body of nutrition researchers from low- and middle-income countries. These are unprecedented opportunities for the nutrition community. Critical issues such as the translation of nutrition research into effective action and the development and propagation of sustainable dietary patterns cannot be ignored. RSVP, anybody?
