The Clinical Nutrition Team is exploring how parental lifestyle during the preconception and gestation period may influence fetal and neonatal development and shape children health and metabolism long term. The team is also investigating how maternal nutrition during lactation and infant nutrition support optimal growth, development and long-term health. Learn more about our different projects highlighted below.
Maternal Programming
To explore whether maternal adiposity, nutrition and physical activity affect offspring’s’ growth, body composition and metabolism, 300 women were enrolled in the Glowing study. Mothers and children were phenotyped every 6 weeks during gestation and at 11 visits postpartum until age 2. Participants, now age 11 years, attend the Glowing Follow up study visits every 3 years to evaluate maternal adiposity, nutrition, and physical activity
Gestational Physical Activity
To investigate whether physical activity improves metabolic health during pregnancy and impacts long term health and metabolism of the offspring, we are enrolling 264 pregnant women with obesity and sedentary behaviors in the Expecting study which is a randomized clinical trial with an intervention group (exercise with a trainer 3x/week at the ACNC gym) and a standard of care group. Our goal is to follow-up the dyads, age 2, 5, 8 and 11 years
Nutritional Programming
To evaluate how nutrition during infancy can impact growth and development, we recruited 600 participants at age 2 months who were fed human milk, dairy-based infant formula or soy-based infant formula in a longitudinal study called Beginnings. We have evaluated the children’s growth, body composition and neurodevelopment every year until 6 years of age. We are now enrolling them in the Beginnings follow up study for a visit at age 14 years
Human Milk Composition
To understand the complexity of human milk over the lactation period, we are conducting a series of observational studies and nutrition intervention studies that are exploring how maternal knowledge, prenatal practices, nutrition and physical activity impact human milk composition and breastfeeding outcomes. Results will inform best practices and guidelines to improve the long-term health of both mothers & children
Methodology Development
To develop technologies to gather accurate and precise data during infancy and childhood, we commissioned the first quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance instrument designed specifically for infants and children. We have also investigated improved estimates of energy expenditure with indirect calorimetry, innovative way to characterize fatty acid oxidation and monitor 24-hour movement behavior in children