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Maternal prebiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation modifies the microbiome and short chain fatty acid profile of both mother and infantImproving maternal gut health in pregnancy and lactation is a potential strategy to improve immune and metabolic health in offspring and curtail the rising rates of inflammatory diseases linked to alterations in gut microbiota. Here, we investigate the effects of a maternal prebiotic supplement (galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides), ingested daily from <21 weeks' gestation to six months' post-partum, in a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial.
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Effects of pregnancy and lactation prebiotics supplementation on infant allergic disease: A randomized controlled trialIngestion of prebiotics during pregnancy and lactation may have immunomodulatory benefits for the developing fetal and infant immune system and provide a potential dietary strategy to reduce the risk of allergic diseases. We sought to determine whether maternal supplementation with dietary prebiotics reduces the risk of allergic outcomes in infants with hereditary risk.
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Maternal Allergic Disease Phenotype and Infant Birth Season Influence the Human Milk MicrobiomeEarly infancy is a critical period for immune development. In addition to being the primary food source during early infancy, human milk also provides multiple bioactive components that shape the infant gut microbiome and immune system and provides a constant source of exposure to maternal microbiota. Given the potential interplay between allergic diseases and the human microbiome, this study aimed to characterise the milk microbiome of allergic mothers.
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Egg-sensitised infants have elevated CD4+ effector memory T regulatory cells from birthIgE-mediated sensitisation to egg is common in infants. In some cases, the processes leading to egg sensitisation are established in early life, even before introduction to solid foods. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
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Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA studyImmunomodulatory proteins in human milk (HM) can shape infant immune development. However, strategies to modulate their levels are currently unknown. This study investigated whether maternal prebiotic supplementation alters the levels of immunomodulatory proteins in HM.
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The SYMBA Study - Promoting Gut Health (SYMBiosis) for Allergy preventionDebbie Susan Desiree Palmer Prescott Silva BSc BND PhD MBBS BMedSci PhD FRACP MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD Head, Nutrition in Early Life Honorary Research
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Infant Diet Recommendations Reduce IgE-Mediated Egg, Peanut, and Cow's Milk AllergiesMeta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have found that introducing eggs and peanuts earlier during infancy reduced egg and peanut allergy risk. Hence, infant feeding advice has dramatically changed from previous recommendations of avoidance to current recommendations of inclusion of common food allergens in infant diets.
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Colostrum as a Protective Factor Against Peanut Allergy: Evidence From a Birth CohortFood allergy affects families' quality of life, can be lifelong and life-threatening, urging the identification of early modifiable risk factors. Formula feeding in the first days of life may increase the risk of cow's milk allergy, a risk often attributed to cow's milk allergens exposure. Early formula feeding also reduces the colostrum intake, the first 3 days' milk, which is rich in bioactive compounds critical for immune and gut health. This study investigates whether partial colostrum feeding increases the risk of food allergy beyond cow's milk.
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Maternal dietary intake in pregnancy and lactation and allergic disease outcomes in offspringAs the prevalence of allergic disease dramatically rises worldwide, prevention strategies are increasingly being considered.
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Effects of maternal dietary egg intake during early lactation on human milk ovalbumin concentration: A randomized controlled trialIncreased maternal egg ingestion is associated with increased breastmilk ovalbumin, and markers of immune tolerance in infants