Research Focus Areas

Research by Danielle Christifano, Ph.D., aims to study how nutrition and lifestyle can improve maternal and infant health outcomes. In addition, her lab collaborates with neurocognitive scientists to answer questions regarding the influence of nutrition on infant health and cognition.

You can follow our lab on Instagram: @ku_nourishandflourish

Left to Right: Nicole Mathis, Lara Bennett, Danielle Christifano, Uju Onuoha

About Our Current Research

Optimal nutrition during pregnancy is vital for fetal growth and development. During the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain goes through rapid development involving wiring of the brain. Nutrients such as docosahexaenoic acid, choline, zinc, folate, iodine, and vitamin D are critical for this process and must be consumed in the mother’s diet or through supplements.

Consuming an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat through nutritious foods improves offspring outcomes for behavioral and cognitive development and mental health throughout their lifetime.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid with the richest source from ocean fish. DHA is critical for fetal brain and eye development, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. DHA also has many other important roles during pregnancy including transport of nutrients across the placenta and increasing gestation duration preventing early preterm birth.

There is not a set DRI for DHA during pregnancy, but many international organizations recommend at least 200 mg DHA/day. However, many women consume less than this amount.

Our research has been focused on improving birth outcomes with DHA supplementation during pregnancy including dosage and adherence. Our future research will focus on fetal and maternal health, infancy, and childhood health and cognition, and nutrients to improve birth outcomes and child development.

You can follow our lab on Instagram @ku_nourishandflourish!