Mother and Infant Study Cohort (MISC)-

University of Sharjah

Status: Completed

Conditions: Adiposity, Breast Feeding

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03578094

1501057003-P

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to explore breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its relation to the early life determinants of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This research study will follow a prospective cohort approach. Two hundred and fifty mother-infant pairs will be followed for 18 months.

The hypothesis of this research study is that exclusive breastfeeding of the infant will provide potential protective effect against cardiometabolic risk factors. This study will also hypothesize that mothers who exclusively breastfeed their newborns would experience greater postpartum weight and body fat loss than mothers who are not breastfeeding.

Full description

United Arab Emirates(UAE) is facing two critical situations: high incidence of obesity and chronic diseases and suboptimal infant feeding practices as reported by the Ministry of Health in the UAE. So early identification of preventive markers of cardiometabolic risk factors in breast milk is important for developing early intervention strategies to optimize health care for individuals and communities especially in countries suffering from high rates of obesity and chronic diseases such as the UAE.

The purpose of this study is to prospectively follow up with the mothers and their infants (from 0-18months of infants age). It will explore breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of mothers in UAE and its relation to the early life determinants of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It will examine the components of human milk which might offer a protective benefit against obesity and its health consequences in infancy. It will also evaluate the feeding practices of the mothers and her nutritional status and relates it to their infants' growth and development.

It is expected that this research study will fill an important knowledge gap in the understanding of the feeding practices of mothers and its relation to early-life determinants of obesity and other chronic diseases in the UAE.

Enrollment: 257 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 19 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant women:

  • Emirate nationality or Arab expatriate
  • Age: 19-40 years
  • Singleton pregnancy
  • Within the third trimester of pregnancy (27-42 weeks of gestation)
  • Free of chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, cancer, or other chronic diseases), autoimmune disorders, or infections with the human immunodeficiency virus, or hepatitis in preconception

Exclusion criteria

• Multiple pregnancies (pregnant with two or more fetuses)
• High-risk pregnancy or pre-eclampsia
• History of chronic diseases
• Preterm (<37 weeks of gestation) or late-term (>42 weeks of gestation) infants
• Congenital diseases or any health condition that could deter breastfeeding