Maternal and Child Nutrition and Development Laboratory

The Maternal and Child Nutrition and Development Laboratory does research regarding docosahexaenoic acid (DHA ) intake during pregnancy and infancy and its effect on infant/child development including cognitive and visual acuity development.  The majority of the research done in the laboratory is through a highly interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. John Colombo and Dr. Kathleen Gustafson, who also have independent laboratories.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found in high concentrations in the brain and retina. Breast milk and, since 2002, US formulas contain DHA.  Many studies have shown that DHA in the diet helps an infant’s vision, attention, and ability to learn.  In this way, DHA is considered an important nutrient for babies after they are born.  DHA may also be important before babies are born.

We are currently enrolling subjects for an NIH funded intervention trial which gives DHA to pregnant women starting in the first half of pregnancy. The goal of this trial is to determine the effect of prenatal DHA on the visual acuity, stereoacuity & cognitive development by testing the offspring as infants and toddlers. We are currently seeking support to follow this cohort of children until 7 years of age.  We aim to complete recruitment of 350 pregnant women (between 8-20 weeks gestation) for this study by the end of 2009.

The lab is currently following the development of children fed formulas containing differing amounts of DHA during their first year of life.  These children are participating in cognitive assessments until they are six years old. 

Additionally, the laboratory does other studies related to the effects of nutrients on infants and toddlers.

The Maternal and Child Nutrition and Development Laboratory serves as a training ground for students working towards their Masters degrees in nutrition and cognitive development.   These students are involved in many areas including the recruitment of potential research participants, developmental & cognitive testing, nutritional assessments, computerized analyses of assessment results, statistical analysis of results, and preparation of scholarly articles.   All work in the laboratory complies with the policies on protection of human subjects of the Human Subjects Committee at KUMC.