Epigenetics links perinatal influences with later obesity. We identifed differentially methylated CpG (dmCpG) loci measured at 17 years associated with concurrent adiposity measures and examined whether these were associated with hsCRP, adipokines, and early life environmental factors. Genome-wide DNA methylation from 1192 Raine Study participants at 17 years, identified 29 dmCpGs associated with body mass index, 10 with waist circumference and 9 with subcutaneous fat thickness. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• February 2021

Pregnant women are advised to take folic acid (FA) supplements before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy. Many women continue FA supplementation throughout pregnancy, and concerns have been raised about associations between excessive FA intake and adverse maternal and child health outcomes. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• May 2024

In this review we examine maternal and infant dietary sources of prebiotics with a particular focus on non-digestible oligosaccharides, which undergo SCFA. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2018
• January 2018

The ecology of the early environment - including microbial diversity, nutrition, nature, social interactions and the totality of exposures in the wider "exposome" - have life-long implications for all aspects of health and resilience. In particular, the emergence of "microbiome science" provides new evidence for vital relationships between biodiversity and health at every level. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• August 2021

The period of infancy and early childhood is a critical time for interventions to prevent future mental health problems. The first signs of mental health difficulties can be manifest in infancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and identifying both protective and risk factors in pregnancy and the early postnatal period. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• September 2021

Associations between the human gut microbiome and health outcomes continues to be of great interest, although fecal sample collection methods which impact microbiome studies are sometimes neglected. Here, we expand on previous work in sample optimization, to promote high quality microbiome data. To compare fecal sample collection methods, amplicons from the bacterial 16S rRNA gene (V4) and fungal (ITS2) region, as well as short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were determined in fecal material over three timepoints. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• July 2021

Growing evidence from preclinical studies, epidemiology, and randomized controlled trials supports a causal role for diet quality in mental disorder risk, and clinical psychiatric guidelines now place diet, along with other life-style behaviors, as foundational treatment targets for mood disorders. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• February 2022

Findings from longitudinal research, globally, repeatedly emphasise the importance of a taking an early life course approach to mental health promotion; one that invests in the formative years of development, from early childhood to young adulthood, just prior to the transition to parenthood for most. While population monitoring systems have been developed for this period, they are typically designed for use within discrete stages. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• February 2023

This paper offers a rare opportunity to longitudinally examine mental health in a population-representative study of children aged 4-5 years to 14-15 years ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• November 2017

Alexander Larcombe A BScEnv (Hons) PhD Team Leader, Respiratory Environmental Health Team Leader, Respiratory Environmental Health Associate Professor Alexander Larcombe began work at the Telethon Institute in 2005 and is now a Senior Research ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• November 2021

This study highlights an unpredicted potential risk factor for the development of food allergy, that is, D pteronyssinus allergens in breast milk ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• May 2020

This chapter assesses what global evidence tells us about the importance of early childhood education and development... ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2013
• January 2013