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Infant study shines new light on eczema prevention

A study led by The Kids Research Institute Australia has suggested vitamin D supplementation in babies is no match for sunlight when it comes to preventing eczema.

Circulating Epithelial Cell Cytokines Are Associated With Early-Onset Atopic Dermatitis

Debbie Susan Palmer Prescott BSc BND PhD MBBS BMedSci PhD FRACP Head, Nutrition in Early Life Honorary Research Fellow debbie.palmer@uwa.edu.au

Lower Cord Blood IL-17 and IL-25, but Not Other Epithelial Cell-Derived Cytokines Are Associated with Atopic Dermatitis in Infancy

There is a growing need for early biomarkers that may predict the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). As alterations in skin barrier may be a primary event in disease pathogenesis, epithelial cell (EC) cytokines expression patterns may be a potential biomarker in early life to target allergy preventive strategies towards "at-risk" infants. The aim of this longitudinal investigation was to examine from birth over the course of infancy levels of the EC cytokines: thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-33, IL-25, and IL-17 in infants at high-risk of AD due to maternal atopy.

Human Milk Microbiome and Microbiome-Related Products: Potential Modulators of Infant Growth

Infant growth trajectory may influence later-life obesity. Human milk provides a wide range of nutritional and bioactive components that are vital for infant growth. Compared to formula-fed infants, breastfed infants are less likely to develop later-onset obesity, highlighting the potential role of bioactive components present in human milk.

In utero and postnatal vitamin D exposure and allergy risk

This review article examines the evidence of the impact of in utero and postnatal vitamin D exposure on allergy risk in childhood

T-cell activation genes differentially expressed at birth in CD4+ T-cells from children who develop IgE food allergy

To show underlying mechanisms, we examined differences in T-cell gene expression in samples at birth and at 1 year in children with and without IgE allergy.

Maternal dietary intake in pregnancy and lactation and allergic disease outcomes in offspring

As the prevalence of allergic disease dramatically rises worldwide, prevention strategies are increasingly being considered.

Debbie Palmer

Head, Nutrition in Early Life

Nutrition in Early Life

The vision of the Nutrition in Early Life team is to work together with the community to produce quality research, for improving our knowledge of how a mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can improve both her and her child’s health.

Role of antenatal maternal diet

Nutrition is a modifiable lifestyle factor that may play a role in allergic disease prevention. This article summarizes current evidence on the antenatal diet as a consideration for strategies to prevent child food allergy. As eczema in early infancy substantially increases the risk of food allergy development, the effects of maternal dietary intakes during pregnancy on infant eczema outcomes will also be discussed.