The role of gut-excreted compounds in how kids grow and risk overweight during early complementary feeding
Official title: The role of fecal metabolites in growth and risk of overweight during complimentary feeding
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11433299 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will explore how poop-borne small molecules from diet and microbes relate to growth and overweight risk in children during the transition to solid foods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $775,317 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK149542-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433299 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children in the complementary feeding window (roughly 5–24 months) and their caregivers, including diverse backgrounds and both sexes.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the complementary feeding window or with conditions that preclude stool collection or specific dietary interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the foods babies start eating beyond breast milk shape their gut bacteria and the small molecules they produce, and how these signals may influence weight gain during a critical growth window. Researchers will collect and analyze stool samples and growth data from participants to map how diet, gut microbes, and metabolites interact over time. The goal is to translate these findings into more precise nutrition guidance for healthy growth in early childhood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to personalized feeding strategies that support healthy growth and help prevent overweight in adolescence and beyond.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that gut microbiota and metabolites relate to growth, but a comprehensive map in this specific developmental window is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Minghua — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Tang, Minghua
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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.