How maternal nutrition before pregnancy affects infant growth and health
Official title: Preconception Maternal Nutrition, Offspring DNA Methylation, and InfantGrowth in Low Resource Settings
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11011211 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether giving moms special nutrition supplements before they have their babies can help improve their infants' health and growth by changing how their genes work, especially in families with fewer resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $498,046 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HD110585-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11011211 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are mothers in low-resource settings who are planning to conceive and may benefit from nutritional supplementation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not planning to conceive or those who do not reside in low-resource settings may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal nutrition supplements taken before conception on the DNA methylation of infants born in low-resource settings. By providing a lipid-based nutrient supplement to mothers, the study aims to determine if these nutrients can lead to beneficial epigenetic changes in their infants, which may influence growth and health outcomes during the first two years of life. The research will analyze specific genomic regions known to be affected by maternal nutrition and track the growth of infants over time to assess the long-term effects of these changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved growth and health outcomes for infants in low-resource settings, potentially reducing rates of stunting and associated lifelong health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that maternal nutrition can significantly impact infant health, suggesting that this approach may yield promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borengasser, Sarah Jean — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Borengasser, Sarah Jean
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.