KEY DISCOVERIES

ALLERGIES
ASTHMA
OBESITY
MICROBIOME
BREASTFEEDING
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT / STRESS
EXPOSOME
COVID-19

ALLERGIES

Four major allergies
may have shared bacterial origin
Children should
eat peanut early
Delayed food introduction
increases allergy risk
‘Triple exposure’ may protect
against peanut allergy
Breastmilk may help prevent
food allergies
Mom’s daily egg intake may influence allergy risk
Baby’s exposure to air pollution, pets, & other kids influences allergy risk
Exposure to traffic pollution in pregnancy
linked to risk of allergies
Furry friends & bacteria
help fight obesity & allergies
Baby’s first poop
helps predict allergies
Baby’s gut fungi
may influence allergies
Mom’s depression affects
baby’s immune system
Asthma & food allergies
are predictable at age one
Birth method, mom’s ethnicity
influences gut bacteria, allergy risk
Birth mode affects microbiome,
obesity & allergy risk
Babies exposed to antibiotics are more likely to get eczema
ASTHMA
Four gut bacteria help
protect kids from asthma
Four major allergies
may have shared bacterial origin
‘Direct’ breastfeeding may
protect against asthma
Lower use of antibiotics
improves gut health, lowers asthma risk
Yeast in babies’ gut
increases asthma risk
Cleaning product exposure
may increase asthma risk
Asthma & food allergies
are predictable at age one
Phthalates in house dust
associated with asthma risk
Breastfeeding may protect
against wheezing & asthma
Lung Clearance Index
detects lung problems early
New tool allows primary caregivers
to predict asthma risk early
Breastfeeding can offset asthma risk caused by a baby’s exposure to antibiotics

OBESITY

Furry friends & bacteria
help fight obesity & allergies
Pregnant mom’s intake of artificial
sweeteners may increase obesity risk
Household cleaners alter gut microbes,
increase obesity risk
Breastfeeding may
protect against obesity
Birth mode affects microbiome,
obesity & allergy risk
Babies’ gut bacteria
may influence obesity risk
Smoking while pregnant linked to changes in baby’s microbiome, increased risk of obesity​
Excess screen time, short sleep linked to obesity in preschool kids
Babies’ gut bacteria
may influence obesity risk

MICROBIOME

“Microbiome” refers to a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit a particular environment, especially the collection of microorganisms living in or on the human body.

Four major allergies
may have shared bacterial origin
Four gut bacteria help
protect kids from asthma
Baby’s first poop
helps predict allergies
Yeast in babies’ gut
increases asthma risk
Birth mode affects microbiome,
obesity & allergy risk
Antibiotics in childbirth affect
microbiota; breastfeeding mitigates
Birth method, mom’s ethnicity
influences gut bacteria, allergy risk
Lower use of antibiotics
improves gut health, lowers asthma risk
Vitamin D supplementation
influences a baby’s gut microbiome
Proximity to green space
benefits baby’s gut bacteria
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces
C. difficile presence in baby’s gut

‘Good’ bacteria
is shared through breastmilk

Breastmilk bacteria is
different when pumped
Baby’s gut fungi
may influence allergies
Furry friends & bacteria
help fight obesity & allergies
Household cleaners alter gut microbes,
increase obesity risk
Gut bacteria are
important for neurodevelopment
Babies’ gut bacteria
may influence obesity risk
Breastfeeding can offset asthma risk caused by a baby’s exposure to antibiotics
CHILD poop enables new microbiome tool​
Babies exposed to antibiotics are more likely to get eczema
Smoking while pregnant linked to changes in baby’s microbiome, increased risk of obesity​

BREASTFEEDING

‘Direct’ breastfeeding may
protect against asthma
Breastmilk may help prevent
food allergies
Breastfeeding may
protect against obesity
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces
C. difficile presence in baby’s gut
‘Triple exposure’ may protect
against peanut allergy
Breastfeeding may protect
against wheezing & asthma
Breastmilk bacteria is
different when pumped

‘Good’ bacteria
is shared through breastmilk

Fats in breastmilk
are unique to each mother
Breastfed newborns have
lower blood pressure at age 3
Antibiotics in childbirth affect
microbiota; breastfeeding mitigates
Breastfeeding can offset asthma risk caused by a baby’s exposure to antibiotics

COGNITIVE DELEVOPMENT & STRESS

More fruit
boosts baby’s brain
Sleep influences a baby’s
cognitive & language skills
Screen time linked
to behavioural problems
Mom’s depression affects
baby’s immune system
Following Movement Guidelines
reduces behavioural problems
Maternal depression higher
among certain ethnic minorities
Household chemicals may affect
mom’s mental health
Gut bacteria are
important for neurodevelopment

EXPOSOME

“Exposome” refers to all the exposures of an individual in a lifetime and how those exposures relate to health. An individual’s exposure begins before birth and includes exposures to the indoor and outdoor environment; exposures related to diet and lifestyle; etc.

Tracking environmental exposures sheds light on health outcomes
Canadian newborns are routinely exposed to antibiotics
Second- and third-hand smoke exposure pervasive among Canadian infants
Furry friends & bacteria
help fight obesity & allergies
Proximity to green space
benefits baby’s gut bacteria
Cleaning product exposure
may increase asthma risk

Baby’s exposure to air pollution, pets, &
other kids influences allergy risk

Lower use of antibiotics
improves gut health, lowers asthma risk
Exposure to traffic pollution in pregnancy
linked to risk of allergies
Mom’s depression affects
baby’s immune system
Phthalates in house dust
associated with asthma risk
Pregnant mom’s intake of artificial
sweeteners may increase obesity risk
Household cleaners alter gut microbes,
increase obesity risk
Screen time linked
to behavioural problems
Antibiotics in childbirth affect microbiota; breastfeeding mitigates
Birth mode affects microbiome,
obesity & allergy risk
Vitamin D supplementation
influences a baby’s gut microbiome
More fruit
boosts baby’s brain
Children should
eat peanut early
Delayed food introduction
increases allergy risk
‘Triple exposure’ may protect
against peanut allergy
‘Direct’ breastfeeding may
protect against asthma
Mom’s daily egg intake
may influence allergy risk
Breastfeeding may
protect against obesity
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces
C. difficile presence in baby’s gut

‘Good’ bacteria
is shared through breastmilk

Breastfeeding may protect
against wheezing & asthma
Breastmilk may help prevent
food allergies
Breastfed newborns have
lower blood pressure at age 3
Excess screen time, short sleep linked to obesity in preschool kids
Breastfeeding can offset asthma risk caused by a baby’s exposure to antibiotics
Household chemicals may affect
mom’s mental health
Babies exposed to antibiotics are more likely to get eczema
Smoking while pregnant linked to changes in baby’s microbiome, increased risk of obesity​