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Carlo Azzarri

Carlo Azzarri is a Senior Research Fellow in the Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit. His work focuses on the relationships among poverty, nutrition, food security, agriculture, the environment, production, and migration—analyzed at both micro and macroeconomic levels, primarily using quantitative methods.

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experts

Nutrition, Diets, and Health

Lieven Huybregts

Senior Research Fellow

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Bio

Lieven Huybregts is a Senior Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, and is the acting chair of IFPRI’s Institutional Review Board. He is a nutrition epidemiologist with expertise in maternal and child malnutrition in developing countries. His current research areas include: the impact of prenatal and postnatal balanced energy and protein supplementation on birth outcomes and early postnatal growth (Burkina Faso); the impact of cash transfers on human capital (Burkina Faso and Mali); integrating preventive interventions into the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition program to tackle child undernutrition using community and health facility-based platforms (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal); the impact of social protection strategies on pregnancy outcomes (Bangladesh); and the determinants of treatment coverage and relapse of child acute malnutrition (Mali and Burkina Faso).

Prior to joining IFPRI, Lieven was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Ghent University and Visiting Scientist at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium. He was Project Leader of the Maternal and Child Nutrition project embedded in the institutional collaboration framework between Jimma University (Ethiopia) and Ghent University (Belgium). He has also conducted several randomized controlled trials in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Chad, and Ecuador in collaboration with NGOs and local research institutes. Lieven holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences and an MS in Bioscience Engineering (major Food Sciences) from Ghent University, Belgium.

Languages Spoken: Dutch, English, French, Italian, German

Publications

Publications

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Journal Article

Maternal balanced energy-protein supplementation reshapes the maternal gut microbiome and enhances carbohydrate metabolism in infants: A randomized controlled trial

2025
Deng, Lishi; Taelman, Steff; Olm, Matthew R.; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Balini, Eva; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; Bastos-Moreira, Yuri; Argaw, Alemayehu; Tesfamariam, Kokeb; Sonnenburg, Erica D.
…more Hanley-Cook, Giles T.; Ouédraogo, Moctar; Ganaba, Rasmané; Criekinge, Wim Van; Huybregts, Lieven; Stock, Michiel; Kolsteren, Patrick; Sonnenburg, Justin L.; Lachat, Carl; Dailey-Chwalibóg, Trenton
Details

Maternal balanced energy-protein supplementation reshapes the maternal gut microbiome and enhances carbohydrate metabolism in infants: A randomized controlled trial

Balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can improve birth outcomes and infant growth, with the gut microbiome as a potential mediator. The MISAME-III randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT03533712) assessed the effect of BEP supplementation, provided during pregnancy and the first six months of lactation, on small-for-gestational age prevalence and length-for-age Z-scores at six months in rural Burkina Faso. Nested within MISAME-III, this sub-study examines the impact of BEP supplementation on maternal and infant gut microbiomes and their mediating role in birth outcomes and infant growth. A total of 152 mother-infant dyads (n = 71 intervention, n = 81 control) were included for metagenomic sequencing, with stool samples collected at the second and third trimesters, and at 1–2 and 5–6 months postpartum. BEP supplementation significantly altered maternal gut microbiome diversity, composition, and function, particularly those with immune-modulatory properties. Pathways linked to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis were depleted and the species Bacteroides fragilis was enriched in BEP-supplemented mothers. Maternal BEP supplementation also accelerated infant microbiome changes and enhanced carbohydrate metabolism. Causal mediation analyses identified specific taxa mediating the effect of BEP on birth outcomes and infant growth. These findings suggest that maternal supplementation modulates gut microbiome composition and influences early-life development in resource-limited settings.

Year published

2025

Authors

Deng, Lishi; Taelman, Steff; Olm, Matthew R.; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Balini, Eva; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; Bastos-Moreira, Yuri; Argaw, Alemayehu; Tesfamariam, Kokeb; Sonnenburg, Erica D.; Hanley-Cook, Giles T.; Ouédraogo, Moctar; Ganaba, Rasmané; Criekinge, Wim Van; Huybregts, Lieven; Stock, Michiel; Kolsteren, Patrick; Sonnenburg, Justin L.; Lachat, Carl; Dailey-Chwalibóg, Trenton

Citation

Deng, Lishi; Taelman, Steff; Olm, Matthew R.; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Balini, Eva; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; et al. 2025. Maternal balanced energy-protein supplementation reshapes the maternal gut microbiome and enhances carbohydrate metabolism in infants: A randomized controlled trial. Nature Communications 16(2025): 2683. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57838-y

Keywords

Carbohydrate Metabolism; Infants; Maternal and Child Health; Maternal Behaviour; Microbiomes; Pregnancy

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57838-y Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Comparison of gestational age assessment methods in the second and third trimesters: Evaluating alternative approaches against ultrasound in urban Burkina Faso

2025
Ouattara, Cheick Ahmed; Compaoré, Anderson; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; Ouédraogo, Moctar; Ouattara, Hermann; Coulibaly, Moussa; Deng, Lishi; Nikiéma, Zakari; Hanley-Cook, Giles T.; Argaw, Alemayehu
…more Huybregts, Lieven; Hadush, Kokeb Tesfamariam; Lachat, Carl; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Dailey-Chwalibóg, Trenton
Details

Comparison of gestational age assessment methods in the second and third trimesters: Evaluating alternative approaches against ultrasound in urban Burkina Faso

Background: Accurate determination of gestational age by way of ultrasound is challenging in resource-limited settings like Burkina Faso, leading to the use of alternative methods, though their accuracy and agreement remain poorly established. This practice leads to inadequate risk assessment during pregnancy and failure to identify preterm birth, potentially contributing to high neonatal mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to determine the agreement among alternative methods for gestational age estimation and the Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement (AMANHI) method in Burkina Faso. Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective cohort study involving pregnant women in the second or third trimester in Bobo-Dioulasso to evaluate the agreement of last menstrual period (LMP), symphysis-fundal height (SFH), Dubowitz, Hadlock, and AMAHNI methods to estimate gestational age. The degree of agreement was assessed using the Bland–Altman method and intraclass correlation coefficients. The AMANHI method, validated for late pregnancy, was used as the reference standard. Results: A total of 768 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Plots showed a lack of agreement between the AMANHI method and all other methods, with 95% limits of agreement ranging from −7.6 to +9.8 weeks. Additionally, the incidence of preterm birth was consistently higher when assessed using the alternative methods compared with the AMANHI method. Conclusions: The clinical methods (SFH, LMP, Dubowitz) disagree with the ultrasound methods (AMANHI, Hadlock), but the ultrasound methods produce more similar results. The routine application of other methods is likely to result in an overestimation of preterm birth incidence compared with AMANHI. These findings highlight the urgent need to improve access to obstetric ultrasound and to provide comprehensive training in the application of the AMANHI method for accurate late-term gestational age estimation in Burkina Faso.

Year published

2025

Authors

Ouattara, Cheick Ahmed; Compaoré, Anderson; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; Ouédraogo, Moctar; Ouattara, Hermann; Coulibaly, Moussa; Deng, Lishi; Nikiéma, Zakari; Hanley-Cook, Giles T.; Argaw, Alemayehu; Huybregts, Lieven; Hadush, Kokeb Tesfamariam; Lachat, Carl; Toe, Laeticia Celine; Dailey-Chwalibóg, Trenton

Citation

Ouattara, Cheick Ahmed; Compaoré, Anderson; Ouédraogo, Lionel Olivier; Ouédraogo, Moctar; Ouattara, Hermann; Coulibaly, Moussa; et al. 2025. Comparison of gestational age assessment methods in the second and third trimesters: Evaluating alternative approaches against ultrasound in urban Burkina Faso. Journal of Clinical Medicine 14(5): 1421. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051421

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Ultrasound; Pregnancy; Risk Assessment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051421 Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Data Paper

SELEVER study data

2025
Gelli, Aulo; Becquey, Elodie; Ganaba, Rasmané; Leight, Jessica; Heckert, Jessica; Huybregts, Lieven; Toé, Laetica; Awonon, Josué; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Diop, Loty
…more Santacroce, Marco; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Hein, Alain; Somé, Henri
Details

SELEVER study data

The SELEVER study was a cluster randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate the effects of an inte-grated agriculture–nutrition intervention package (including poultry value chain development, women’s empowerment activities, and a behavior change communications strategy to promote improved diets and feeding, care, and hygiene practices) on the diets, health, and nutritional status of women and chil-dren in rural Burkina Faso (1). Four rounds of data collection were carried out in rural communities of three regions of Burkina Faso: Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest and Haut-Bassins between March 2017 and August 2020. The first round (Baseline) took place between March and June 2017 during the post-harvest season in a sam-ple of 1800 households. The second (Follow-up) and third (Follow-up 2) rounds took place during the lean season in 2017 (September-October) and 2019 (September-October) in a subsample of 1080 households. The last survey round (Endline) took place between March and August 2020 (including a break due to covid-19 restrictions).

Year published

2025

Authors

Gelli, Aulo; Becquey, Elodie; Ganaba, Rasmané; Leight, Jessica; Heckert, Jessica; Huybregts, Lieven; Toé, Laetica; Awonon, Josué; Diatta, Ampa Dogui; Diop, Loty; Santacroce, Marco; Pedehombga, Abdoulaye; Hein, Alain; Somé, Henri

Citation

Gelli, Aulo; Becquey, Elodie; Ganaba, Rasmané; Leight, Jessica; et al. 2025. SELEVER study data. Data Paper. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute.

Country/Region

Burkina Faso

Keywords

Western Africa; Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Value Chains; Poultry; Women’s Empowerment; Maternal Nutrition; Water; Hygiene; Health; Child Nutrition; Health Communication; Dietary Assessment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Sustainable Healthy Diets

Record type

Data Paper

Blogs

Estimating the burden of child acute malnutrition accurately
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 03, 2020

Estimating the burden of child acute malnutrition accurately

By Francisco Barba, Lieven Huybregts, and Jef Leroy

Current global numbers are likely undercounts.

Incorporating prevention into community-based management of acute malnutrition: Insights from Mali and Burkina Faso
IFPRI Blog
 | 
October 04, 2019

Incorporating prevention into community-based management of acute malnutrition: Insights from Mali and Burkina Faso

By Lieven Huybregts, Elodie Becquey, Jef Leroy, and Marie Ruel

Studies show mixed results for a program that coupled acute malnutrition screenings with dietary supplements.

Events

Micronutrient Forum: 6th Global Conference
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

October 16 to 20, 2023

Micronutrient Forum: 6th Global Conference

Hybrid Conference: October 16, 2023 – 8:30 AM to October 20, 2023 – 5:00 PM CEST. IFPRI is pleased to participate in this year’s Micronutrient Forum 6th Global Conference, being held at the World Forum in The Hague October 16–20, with a focus on “Nutrition for Resilience (N4R).

Irrigation sensible à la nutrition au Mali : un guide pour progresser en matière de sécurité hydrique, alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Mali
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

August 2, 2023, 9:00 – 10:30 am

Irrigation sensible à la nutrition au Mali : un guide pour progresser en matière de sécurité hydrique, alimentaire et nutritionnelle au Mali

Virtual Event: August 2, 2023 – 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM EDT. Irrigation contributes to agricultural intensification and farm profitability, helps farm households extend the growing season, and is increasingly important for farmers’ resilience to climate shocks and stressors. Please join us for a webinar to discuss this important topic on August 2 at 9:00 EST and 13:00 GMT (Bamako time).

Integrated Cash Transfer Programs in West Africa: How to make cash transfer programs more nutrition sensitive?
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

February 13, 2020, 2:30 – 5:30 pm

Integrated Cash Transfer Programs in West Africa: How to make cash transfer programs more nutrition sensitive?

IFPRI West and Central Africa Office and the Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division (PHND) will be hosting a policy seminar on Integrated Cash Transfer Programs in West Africa to provide evidence on the impacts of integrated programs implemented in West Africa and discuss program design and policy options to make them more nutrition-sensitive. The use […]

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