Dietary Modulation Of Maternal Gut Flora With Oligosaccharides In Pregnancy As A Novel Allergy Prevention Strategy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,681,512.00
Summary
Declining intake of dietary fibre is a major factor implicated in the changing profile of healthy gut bacteria, and the associated increase in many inflammatory diseases including childhood allergy. This clinical trial aims to confirm findings in animal studies that increased dietary fibre in pregnancy can prevent allergy in the offspring, by favourably influencing metabolism and immune function during pregnancy.
Immunomodulatory Effects Of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids : Role In Allergy Prevention In Infancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$537,600.00
Summary
The dramatic increase in asthma and allergic disease over the last 20-30 years has highlighted the urgent need to identify associated environmental changes that may also be logical targets for disease prevention. Although this is likely to be multifactorial, one significant change during this period has been a progressive decline in the intake of dietary anti-inflammatory n-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) in Western diets, with a corresponding increase in n-6 PUFA fatty acids. We recently showed f ....The dramatic increase in asthma and allergic disease over the last 20-30 years has highlighted the urgent need to identify associated environmental changes that may also be logical targets for disease prevention. Although this is likely to be multifactorial, one significant change during this period has been a progressive decline in the intake of dietary anti-inflammatory n-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) in Western diets, with a corresponding increase in n-6 PUFA fatty acids. We recently showed for the first time that n-3 PUFA may have more significant effects in very early life before immune responses are fully established. We confirmed that maternal fish oil supplementation (n-40) resulted in significantly higher n-3 PUFA levels in newborns (compared to those with no supplements, n-43), and this was related to reduced immune responses to allergens (such as house dust mite, cat and egg). These observations suggest that n-3 PUFA can modify early immune development. Although this previous study was designed to assess immune outcomes (rather than clinical outcomes) we collected preliminary clinical data for the purposes of this application. We observed a consistent trend for less allergic symptoms and sensitisation in the supplementation group. These observations clearly warrant this proposed study to confirm these clinical effects, and to assess the mechanisms of action in considerably more detail. In this proposed study we will compare the effects of fish oil (n-165) or placebo (n-165) in early infancy (from 0-6 months of age). This much larger population will allow us to determine if increasing dietary n-3 PUFA is a way of reducing the chance of allergy in families where there is a high genetic risk. Approximately 40% of infants in Australia will go on to develop asthma or allergies. Strategies such as this that reduce the risk (even slightly) or the severity of disease expression could have enormous impact in this global context at relatively little cost.Read moreRead less
Maternal Diet Rich In Eggs And Peanuts To Reduce Food Allergies: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,719,516.00
Summary
Food allergies now affect more than 1 in every 10 children. Recently, babies have been found to be at risk of developing a food allergy even before they start eating solid foods. We have discovered that baby immune responses can be improved by mothers eating more eggs during the first weeks of breastfeeding. Thus we are undertaking this research trial to determine whether mothers regularly eating more eggs and peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding will reduce food allergies in their babies.
Diet And The Gut Microbiota As The Basis For Food Allergies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$669,091.00
Summary
Diet and the composition of the gut microbiota represent new avenues to prevent or treat human diseases. We propose that allergies in western countries result from altered gut homeostasis. This application seeks to understand all the molecules involved, and to discover new bacteria that associate with, or protect from allergies.