Two Eggs a Day for a Healthier Generation
The Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems is currently implementing a project in Rwanda to investigate the potential of eggs: Could feeding pregnant women two eggs a day improve their child's growth and development?
We spoke with Heather Stark, the project’s co-principal investigator, and Chhavi Tiwari, a postdoctoral research associate, to learn more about their work.
In Rwanda, 33% of children are stunted, meaning that they have not reached their growth potential due to disease, poor health, and malnutrition (WHO, 2015). In the district of Nyagatare, where the project was launched, both child and maternal malnutrition rates are high. Stark explained that the first 1000 days after conception are critical to a child’s lifelong development. As such, nutrition during pregnancy is crucial.
The project, "Cracking the Potential of Eggs to Improve Child Growth and Development," is conducting a randomized control trial to study the effects of maternal egg consumption on birth outcomes, primarily child length at birth. Previous studies have found that feeding children eggs leads to better development outcomes, but no studies have assessed whether feeding eggs to pregnant mothers impacts child development. Tiwari said this study will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the potential of egg supplementation during pregnancy on child growth.
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