Effects of restricting non-nutritive sweeteners during pregnancy on infant growth
Official title: Effects of a non-nutritive sweetener restriction intervention during pregnancy and lactation on eating behavior, dietary intake, and growth from birth to 24 months
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11339715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will test whether limiting non-nutritive sweeteners in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers affects how babies eat, grow, and develop in the first two years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $704,708 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD121599-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339715 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant or lactating individuals who use or are considering non-nutritive sweeteners and want to understand potential impacts on their child’s growth.
✕Less likely to help
Families not consuming or considering non-nutritive sweeteners may not experience a direct change from this study.
What this research studies
The study follows pregnant people and their babies to see if reducing non-nutritive sweeteners during pregnancy and lactation changes infants’ eating behaviors, sugar intake, and growth patterns from birth to 24 months. Researchers will monitor dietary intake, weight trajectories, and developmental markers, using a combination of surveys, infant measurements, and health records. The goal is to understand if maternal NNS exposure influences early eating habits and obesity risk in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform dietary guidelines for pregnant and nursing parents to support healthier infant growth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked maternal NNS exposure to infant outcomes, but experimental human data are limited, making this a novel test of causality.
Where this research is happening
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Emily R — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Smith, Emily R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.