How infant diet affects heart and metabolic health in preterm babies
Official title: Infant diet and cardiometabolic risk among children born preterm
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10912782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the food that very premature babies eat in the NICU can affect their health as they grow up, helping us find the best ways to feed them to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 23, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $746,826 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112751-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants born very preterm, specifically those who require NICU care shortly after birth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not born preterm or those who do not require NICU support may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of diet on the long-term health of infants born very preterm, specifically those born before 32 weeks of gestation. It focuses on how dietary practices during their critical early life stages in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can influence the risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and other cardiometabolic conditions later in childhood and adulthood. By examining the nutritional needs and growth patterns of these vulnerable infants, the study aims to identify optimal dietary interventions that can promote healthier outcomes. The research utilizes a combination of clinical assessments and biological markers to evaluate the effects of different feeding strategies on growth and health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary guidelines that enhance the health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases in children born preterm.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that dietary interventions in early life can significantly impact long-term health outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belfort, Mandy Brown — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Belfort, Mandy Brown
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PREEMIE PROGRESS: a family program to help parents of very preterm babies
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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.