Can you help us find out the ideal amount of iodine needed in pregnancy for baby’s brain development?

Who can take part?

• Pregnant women who are less than 13 weeks into their pregnancy
  

Check your eligibility

Why are we interested in iodine in pregnancy?

Getting the right amount of iodine in pregnancy is important for baby’s brain and nervous system development. Since 2009, iodine has been added to some of our food and pregnant women are also advised to take a supplement containing iodine. Recent studies suggest that some women get enough iodine from the food they eat and may not need the amount of iodine that is contained in common prenatal supplements. The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) is working with colleagues around Australia to find out the optimal level of iodine supplementation for pregnant women who already have an adequate iodine intake from the food that they eat.

Why are we interested in what babies eat and drink?

The first two years of a baby’s life set the foundation for dietary patterns later in life. Previous national nutrition surveys did not include children under two years, therefore information on their diets is limited.

In this study, we would like to find out what children under two years of age are eating and drinking. Our study also aims to find out how today’s diets and feeding practices compare to Australian dietary guidelines.

With this information, we will provide better nutrition information to parents and caregivers about nutrition in the early years.

Are you less than 23 weeks pregnant? SAHMRI is looking for participants for the PrEggNut Study.

By 1 year of age, 10% (1 in every 10) of babies will develop a food allergy. Evidence to date suggests that the ideal time to prevent food allergy may be during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but little is known about the effect of what mothers eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding on the risk of food allergies in their babies. This research is testing whether the amount of eggs and peanuts a mother eats during pregnancy and breastfeeding has an influence on her baby’s food allergy development. Study results will be used to develop national recommendations about how much egg and peanut to eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding to reduce egg and peanut allergies in babies.

Why are we interested in what babies eat?

Australian infant feeding guidelines for prevention of food allergy encourage common allergens (egg, peanut paste and wheat) to be included in babies’ diets in their first year.

We would like to know how often one year old children are eating common food allergens like egg, peanut and wheat.

The CRE in Targeted Nutrition to Improve Maternal and Child Health Outcomes (NMC CRE) brings together a team of experts across Australia and New Zealand that will focus on 4 key themes based around nutritional interventions to optimise health outcomes of mothers and their children.