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.
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.
Allergic disease affects more than one in five Australian children. What foods a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as when to introduce solid foods to babies, is thought to be critical in reducing the increasing burden of allergies in our Australian community. I hope to use this fellowship to discover what dietary factors put children at risk of developing a food allergy, and ways we can reduce that risk.