AMES, Iowa -- Christina Campbell is out to prove that women can give birth to healthier babies through improved diet and exercise habits during pregnancy. The Iowa State University associate professor of food science and human nutrition (FSHN) has already collected research data from more than 120 pregnant women as part of the Blossom Project, which Campbell brought to ISU from Montana State University in January 2009.
Campbell emphasizes that a healthier pregnancy is the first step in the prevention of chronic disease for the fetus and also an opportunity to influence the mother's future health. She's particularly interested in assessing the omega-3 fatty acid intake of pregnant women -- and for good reason. DHA -- an omega-3 fatty acid that influences babies' neural and cognitive development and visual acuity -- is found in cold water fish, such as salmon and white tuna.
"DHA is an important fatty acid for fetal development and is actually important across the lifespan for lots of different reasons. But it's particularly important during pregnancy that a woman gets enough," Campbell said. "We've found the DHA intake in central Iowa, at least in our population, is very, very low. And I've also collected data in Montana and it's much lower here than it is in Montana."
Iowa subjects far below recommended DHA intake
In early results taken from the Iowa data, the subjects' median intake of DHA was found to be about 30 milligrams per day (mpd) -- far below the recommended daily intake of 200 mpd.
"I was expecting it to be low in both places [Iowa and Montana] since the studies were conducted in similar non-coastal communities," Campbell said. "So now we need to figure out why the Iowa intake is lower and what can be done to improve the diet by increasing the consumption of this fatty acid."
A team of Blossom Project researchers assess the subjects' diets and obtain blood samples at weeks 18 and 35 of pregnancy. At delivery, they also collect blood from the baby's umbilical cord to determine the levels of fatty acids the fetus received during pregnancy.
Through testing conducted at Iowa State's Nutrition and Wellness Research Center (NWRC), researchers are also collecting data on the subjects' exercise frequencies and intensity levels. They determine how many calories the pregnant women expend while performing four daily activities -- typing, folding laundry, sweeping and walking.
Campbell reports that there are two new studies related to the Blossom Project starting this fall. The first will be a survey on why pregnant women are not eating more fish. The second will study the effects of a walking-based intervention with pregnant women.
"Right now, that's more of a feasibility study to demonstrate that we can take these pregnant women -- who aren't exercising -- and get them moving more," Campbell said. "It's a walking-based intervention with a primary emphasis on preventing excessive weight gain."
Assessing physical activity during pregnancy
She says her research team is also working with Lorraine Lanningham-Foster, an assistant professor of FSHN; and Greg Welk, an associate professor of kinesiology and director of clinical research and community outreach at the NWRC, on a project to assess physical activity during pregnancy. Subjects are asked to wear an advanced activity monitor known as the Sensewear Pro armband (manufactured by BodyMedia Inc.). The monitor is worn on the arm and uses sensors to measure movement and heat produced from physical activity. The sensors assess how hard people are working and estimate how many calories are expended during specific activities.
All the data collected through the Blossom Project will provide a greater understanding on how prenatal exercise, in combination with a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids, can influence the future health of the mother and her child.
"One of the things we know with obesity, diabetes and other major health problems in our country today is that if a woman comes off her pregnancy and she's heavier after she gives birth, her baby has an increased chance of becoming overweight or obese," Campbell said. "If she gains an excessive amount of weight when she's pregnant, the baby has an increased risk of obesity later in life. If she develops diabetes, she and the baby have increased risk of diabetes later in life. What I'm really trying to do is figure out ways to intervene during pregnancy to help the mom prevent future health problems and get her baby on the right track from the beginning."
Campbell has presented some of her research results at professional conferences, including the Experimental Biology national conference last April, the International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, and the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. She is also planning to submit several future papers to professional journals.
Pregnant women who would like to participate or learn more about the Blossom Project can contact the recruitment team at (515) 294-8673, or blossomproject@iastate.edu.