The NiPPeR study, which is investigating how a specially-formulated nutritional supplement taken before and during pregnancy could improve the health of the baby in the first year of life and beyond, is now in the final few months of recruiting women who are thinking of trying for a baby.
Participants are still being sought, as the study’s Chief Investigator Professor Keith Godfrey explained:
The NiPPeR study has recruited 314 women so far, and is approaching the number required for its target of around 200 pregnancies. This marks an important milestone for the study, the findings of which could have wide-reaching implications for health policy and strengthen arguments for the provision of pre-conception nutritional advice to the general population.
If you are interested in joining our study then please do get in touch as soon as possible as our recruitment will end in the spring.
Increasing evidence shows the mother’s nutritional state as she enters pregnancy is important for the baby’s development and life-long health. For example, if the mother has high blood sugar levels in pregnancy it can predispose the baby to having increased body fat and diabetes in later life.
The NiPPeR study provides all participating women with a nutrient drink before conception. The drink includes the vitamins and mineral supplements already recommended for pregnancy. Half the women also get additional components in their drink, such as probiotics, as part of the trial. The women are then followed through pregnancy and their baby’s first year of life.
Anyone interested in participating in, or receiving further information about, the trial should contact the NiPPeR team at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University on Tel. +44(0)80 0032 3130, TEXT NIPPER to 66777, email: [email protected] or visit www.nipperstudy.com.
