NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NUTRITION (NIN)
carries out short term and long-term
NIN is mainly a research centre. It is a Public health,
Biotechnology and translational research centre
located at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India.
It is one of the oldest and largest research centres in
India. National Institute of nutrition was founded by
Sir Robert McCarrison in the year 1918 as Beriberi
Enquiry Unit, but gained its name as National Institute
of Nutrition 1969 at the time of its golden jubilee. The
Institute has received International recognition. NIN is
a WHO collaborating centre for Nutrition and Health
Development in India
 Objectives
 To identify various dietary and nutrition
problems prevalent among different segments
of the population in the country.
 To monitor diet and nutrition situation of the
country.
 To evolve effective methods of management
and prevention of nutritional problems.
 To dovetail nutrition research with other
health programmes of the Government.
 To develop Human resource in the field of
nutrition.
 To disseminate nutrition information.
 To advice Governments and other
Organizations on issues relating to nutrition.
 Activities
 The NIN conducts research in the area of food
and nutrition.
 The Food and Drug Toxicology Research
Centre (FDTRC) of the NIN carries out research
in the areas of food safety, food toxicology,
heavy metal contaminants and fluorosis
 The National Centre of Laboratory Sciences
(NCLAS) of NIN develops, breeds and supplies
various animal models and feeds for
experimental purposes.
 The Preclinical Toxicology Centre (PCT) of NIN
toxicological evaluations of candidate
molecules.
 NIN generates information on food and
nutrient intakes, nutritional status,
micronutrients deficiency disorders etc.
among rural communities on a continuous
basis.
 Thrust areas of NIN
• Basic research: Food chemistry, nutritional
biochemistry, biophysics, work physiology,
stem cell research etc.
• Clinical research: Maternal and child nutrition,
bone health, diet and cancer, diet and
diabetes, pathology and microbiology related
studies.
• Community based operational research:
Nutrition monitoring and surveillance, food
and nutrients intakes, infant and child feeding
practices, macro and micronutrient
malnutrition, policy research etc.
• Human resource development: Conducting
regular post graduate and certificate training
programmes in various areas of applied
nutrition, and extension and education
activities in nutrition and health
 Conclusion
The contribution of NIN in the field of nutrition is
overwhelming. Collaborating with the Indian
Government and other International Agencies like
WHO, it has successfully carried out research in
various fields, helped to develop human resource in
the field of nutrition and operate other community
based research. Its objective is to uplift nutritional
status of the Nation, and it is indeed successful in it.It
is also helping the Government in conducting nutrition
and health related programmes . It is constantly
monitoring diet and nutrition situation in the country,
and is helping to provide effective methods of
management, and prevention of nutritional problems
of the society in all levels