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The ORIGINS Project: A platform for nutrition research discovery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2023

P. Pannu
Affiliation:
The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
J. Davis
Affiliation:
The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
L. Gibson
Affiliation:
The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
D. Silva
Affiliation:
The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
S. Prescott
Affiliation:
The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
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Abstract

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2023

The ORIGINS Project(Reference Silva, Hagemann and Davis1) is the largest longitudinal cohort study in Australia, recruiting 10,000 pregnant women and their partners in Perth, Western Australia, and following up until their children turn 5 years of age. The goal of the project is to reduce the rising epidemic of non-communicable disease, through a ‘healthy start to life’. Data and biological samples are collected from the families at multiple time-points from pregnancy until early childhood. The comprehensive collection of data has developed an extensive biobank and databank which can be used as a platform for nutrition research. Data is collected on ‘active’ participants (in-depth data and sample collections), and ‘non-active’ participants (routine and linked data). Data collected includes nutrition, physical health, mental health, physical activity and environmental factors. Nutrition data is collected from mothers through the Australian Eating Survey(Reference Collins, Burrows and Truby2) and from children through the Food Frequency Questionnaire.(Reference Zheng, Campbell and Scanlan3) Additional nutrition data is also collected, including method of infant feeding, nutritional supplements, food allergies, and the Mediterranean Diet Index.(Reference Silva-del Valle, Sanchez-Villegas and Serra-Majem4) From a total cohort of over 5,000 mothers, the mean age was 31 years, body mass index was 25.1 kg/m2 and half were of British (29%) or Australian (21%) descent. The majority of women were married (90%), almost half had a university degree (43%) and most were in paid employment (70%). During pregnancy, 77% were taking nutritional supplements, and 15% had a high Mediterranean Diet Index score.(Reference Silva-del Valle, Sanchez-Villegas and Serra-Majem4) On leaving hospital, 49% were exclusively breastfeeding, 5% were formula feeding, and 17% were mixed feeding. At the 1-year timepoint, 3% of the cohort were identified as having a nut food allergy, and 9% had other food allergies. The ORIGINS Project provides a platform for researchers to assess nutrition and other facets of health in pregnant women and children, providing predictors of non-communicable diseases. The comprehensive nature of the data provides a unique and longitudinal insight into young families.

References

Silva, DT, Hagemann, E, Davis, JA, et al. (2020) Rev Environ Health 35, 281293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, CE, Burrows, L, Truby, H, et al. (2013) J Acad Nutr Diet 113, 459463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zheng, M, Campbell, KJ, Scanlan, E, et al. (2020) PLoS One 15, 116.Google Scholar
Silva-del Valle, MA, Sanchez-Villegas, A & Serra-Majem, L. (2013) Nutr Hosp 28, 654659.Google Scholar