Skip to content

Search

Folate success helps Aboriginal kids

More than 30 years of research into the links between folate and neural tube defects has paid off for The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher Professor Carol Bower.

Poor diet seriously affects teens’ liver health

New research from Perth's The Kids for Child Health Research shows that a Western diet is associated with an increased risk of liver disease in teenag

Vitamin B crucial to children’s mental health

A new study led by The Kids has uncovered a significant link between vitamin B levels and the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents.

Western diet linked to teen's poor mental health

A new study from The Kids for Child Health Research has shown a link between Western-style diets and more mental health problems in teenagers.

Mandatory folate fortification a win for Australian families

The introduction of mandatory fortification of bread making flour with folate will save hundreds of families every year from the heartbreak of birth defefects

Folate decision a win for families

Child health expert Professor Fiona Stanley says today's decision by the Federal and State Food Regulation Ministers to fortify food with folate was a great win

FAQ's - Mandatory fortification with folate

Mandatory fortification with folate frequently asked questions, answered.

Children arriving hungry in the first year of school: population trends in Australia from 2009 to 2021

Access to adequate nutrition is a human right. In 2023, 23% of Australian households were severely food insecure, reducing food intake, skipping meals or days of eating. Food insecurity in early childhood is linked to poor health and development. Specifically, breakfast provides children with the necessary nutrients required for sustained attention, memory, and cognitive growth. Australian research has reported that one in three children aged 8–18 years regularly skip breakfast. However, there is little understanding of the prevalence of food insecurity among young children in Australia.

Maternal prebiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation modifies the microbiome and short chain fatty acid profile of both mother and infant

Improving maternal gut health in pregnancy and lactation is a potential strategy to improve immune and metabolic health in offspring and curtail the rising rates of inflammatory diseases linked to alterations in gut microbiota. Here, we investigate the effects of a maternal prebiotic supplement (galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides), ingested daily from <21 weeks' gestation to six months' post-partum, in a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial.