Early-life nutritional supplements and adolescent brain and behavior health in Ghana
Official title: Effects of early-life nutritional supplementation on the brains, bodies, and behaviors of Ghanaian youths in middle adolescence
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11474436 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows thousands of Ghanaian youths to understand how nutrition in infancy and pregnancy affects brain development, hormones, behavior, and growth during adolescence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $230,770 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD099811-07S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474436 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents in similar age range (around 14-16 years) whose mothers participated in the SQ-LNS program or related maternal nutrition trials; families in Ghana or similar LMIC settings.
✕Less likely to help
Adolescents without exposure to SQ-LNS in early life or from populations with different environmental factors may see less benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers in Ghana and at UC Davis are studying how a special infant and maternal nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) given during pregnancy and early infancy influences brain and body maturation, autonomic regulation, hormones, and behavior as children reach mid-adolescence. The study builds on an earlier trial and tracks 440 youths from families who received SQ-LNS and 880 from control groups, using brain imaging, hormone measurements, and behavioral assessments. The goal is to see long-term effects on neurodevelopment and psychosocial functioning during a key adolescent period. This work may inform programs to improve child development and health in low- and middle-income countries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide policies and programs to support healthy brain development and behavior in adolescents through maternal and early-life nutrition.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed improvements in white matter microstructure, growth, and puberty measures; this study extends those findings to mid-adolescence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hastings, Paul David — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Hastings, Paul David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.