HELMi (Finnish Health and Early Life Microbiota)
HELMi (Finnish Health and Early Life Microbiota) is a longitudinal birth cohort which consists of 1055 healthy term infants born in 2016-2018 and their families. Participating families were required mainly at the capital region of Finland. The purpose of this cohort is to increase understanding of the impact of the environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors on the early life gut microbiota and child’s well-being. Gut microbiota is examined by analyzing frequent fecal samples collected from the child during the first 0-24 months (9 different timepoints).
In this particular research group, the focus is on examining how early gut microbiota may influence a child’s later socio-emotional development. Information on children’s socio-emotional development has been collected using ITSEA (Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment) and ASQ:SE-2 (Ages and Stages: Socio-Emotional) questionnaires, for example. This study is valuable because previous studies examining the link between gut microbiota and socio-emotional development have mainly focused on children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This study focuses on healthy children. In addition, most of the previous research is cross-sectional, whereas the HELMi cohort enables longitudinal research on the associations between the gut microbiota and socio-emotional development, thus providing a broader understanding of the topic.
Researchers:
Anne Salonen, Willem M. de Vos, Ching Jian, Eveliina Hanski, Ilhan Cem Duru, Schahzad Saqib, Seppo Virtanen, Hanna Huuki, Kaisa Kervinen, Maria Norppa, Nima Fouladi Ghareshiran, Tuomas Heini, Levi Tomitsik, Nugrah Fadillah
For further information, see
Link to Finnish Health and Early Life Micobiota (HELMi)
Vitamin D intervention in infants (VIDI) study
VIDI study was a randomized, double-blinded, 2-year clinical trial of daily vitamin D3 supplementation of 10 µg (400 IU) or 30 µg (1200 IU) administered to 987 infants.
Between January 2013 and June 2014, families were recruited at Kätilöopisto Helsinki Maternity Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. The primary outcomes were bone strength and incidence of parent-reported infections. Secondary outcomes included child socioemotional and cognitive development.
We have completed a VIDI follow-up study (VIDI2) when the children were 6 to 7 years of age during 2019-2021. Main aim of the follow-up study is to investigate long-term health consequences of early childhood vitamin D intervention. Data processing and analyzing is currently ongoing.
Study is carried out by HUS Helsinki University Hospital together with University of Helsinki, in a collaboration with Folkhälsan Research Center and Karolinska Institutet.
Researchers:
Sture Andersson, Outi Mäkitie, Elisa Holmlund-Suila, Helena Hauta-alus, Jenni Rosendahl, Maria Enlund-Cerullo, Saara Valkama, Lotta Sydänmaa, Samuel Sandboge, Laura Koljonen, Minna Pekkinen, Anders Kämpe, Otto Helve, Kati Heinonen, Katri Räikkönen, Heidi Arponen, Janna Waltimo-Siren, Nea Boman, Sari Linden, Rhea Paajanen, Julia Kasurinen ja Hyry Saimi
For further information, see
Link to Vitamin D intervention in infants (VIDI) study