Starch to save young lives

A fibre may help save millions of children in developing countries who die or who are left malnourished from diarrhoea each year.

Resistant starch in the diet may protect millions of children in developing countries from diarrhoea.

Graeme Young, AM, of Flinders University, is leading a global project that will test his theory that resistant starch increases zinc absorption in the body.

“Zinc tablets are currently given in response to an acute attack of diarrhoea but only a minority follow the recommended course of tablets. There may be other complementary ways to ensure we better correct nutritional deficits in zinc and so better deal with the problem,” Graeme says.

Graeme was named the 2013 South Australian Scientist of the Year for this research, as well as for his work on Australia’s national bowel cancer screening program.

He is professor of global gastrointestinal health at Flinders University, and at the time of the award was director of the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer.

Photo:  Resistant starch in the diet may protect millions of children in developing countries from diarrhoea.