Effects of fermented and fiber-rich foods on maternal & offspring microbiome study (FeFiFo-MOMS) — Study design and methods

Product:

Inflammation Panel 250

Topic:

Inflammation

Disease Area:

Diet, Microbiome

Sample Type:

Topic/Product:

Inflammation Panel 250

Disease Area:

Diet, Microbiome

Sample Type:

Abstract

Background

Recent research underscores the crucial role of the gut microbiota in human health, particularly during states of altered homeostasis, including pregnancy. Additionally, it is not well understood how dietary changes during pregnancy affect the development of microbiomes of both mother and child.

Methods

Here, we describe the study design and methods for our randomized controlled trial, the fermented and fiber-rich foods on maternal and offspring microbiome study (FeFiFo-MOMS). We enrolled 135 women during early pregnancy, randomizing them to one of four diet arms: increased fiber, increased fermented foods, increase in both, and no dietary intervention as a comparator arm. Samples were collected across pregnancy continuing to 18 months post-birth for clinical, microbiome, and immune marker analysis.

Results

Our trial design intended to investigate the effects of dietary interventions—specifically, increased intake of high-fiber and fermented foods—on maternal gut microbiota diversity and its subsequent transmission to infants.

Conclusion

The FeFiFo-MOMS trial was designed to provide valuable insights into the modifiable dietary factors that could influence maternal and infant health through microbiota-mediated mechanisms and examine the broader implications of diet on pregnant mothers’ and infants’ health and disease.

Authors & Affiliations

Catherine P. Ward a, Dalia Perelman a, Lindsay R. Durand a, Jennifer L. Robinson a, Kristen M. Cunanan b, Sailendharan Sudakaran c, Roujheen Sabetan a, Maggie J. Madrigal-Moeller c, Christopher Dant a, Erica D. Sonnenburg c, Justin L. Sonnenburg c, Christopher D. Gardner a

a Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
b Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
c Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA

Steve Williams, MD, PhD

CSO

Dr. Willams serves as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer. He was previously Chief Medical Officer at Standard Biotools and at SomaLogic where he pioneered the discipline for discovery and validation of predictive, diagnostic and prognostic models using machine-learning applied to large-plex proteomics. 20 such tests were used for drug characterization, safety and efficacy when incorporated in clinical drug trials at Pharma/Biotech and 17 different multivariate tests were validated and translated into regulated healthcare uses. Prior to SomaLogic, Dr. Williams was at Pfizer in the UK and the USA as a clinical triallist in Translational Medicine, and subsequently as VP, Global Clinical Technology. He sat on the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the Executive Committee for the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium, and worked with FDA and PhRMA on developing evidentiary standards for biomarker qualification. Dr. William’s medical training was in London, at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, followed by a PhD in medicine/physiology at the same institution and training in Radiology at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Steve is co-inventor on 26 proteomics patents and author/coauthor on multiple foundational proteomics manuscripts.

Justin McAnear

CFO

Mr. McAnear serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. He brings over 25 years of operational and financial leadership experience across various sectors and was instrumental in taking 10x Genomics public in 2019, serving as its CFO for over five years. Mr. McAnear served for over 3 years as Tesla’s VP of Worldwide Finance and Operations, supporting landmark initiatives such as the Model X and Model 3 launches and Solar City acquisition. He also held various roles at Apple and J&J earlier in his career and served as a naval officer and aviator for over 9 years.