Do You Want to Help New Zealand Become a Healthier Place for Our Kids?

Exciting research is underway and we are looking for expectant mothers to take part in a clinical trial.

The Liggins Institute is investigating whether taking fresh fish oil during pregnancy may help prevent your baby from becoming overweight and developing problems such as diabetes as they grow up. 

We are one of the world’s leading centres for research on foetal and child health, nutrition and development.

While in the comfort of your own home, you can participate in one of New Zealand’s most influential and important studies to date, working to solve health issues related to the weight of your child.

Weight-related diseases such as diabetes are a growing problem here in New Zealand. Statistics from the charity, Diabetes New Zealand, tell us that Kiwis’ diagnosed with this condition have more than doubled since 2005.

The study is easy, free, and takes up very little time. By participating, you will be influential in helping New Zealand become a healthier country for all of our children.

Why?

We know that children of overweight women are more likely to develop health and weight problems themselves. We want to investigate whether taking fresh fish oil during pregnancy will help prevent this, and lead to longer, healthier and happier lives for future generations of Kiwi kids.

How?

We are based at the University of Auckland Medical School, and are testing a safe and simple treatment for women who are pregnant and carry extra weight to see if it can help reduce body fat and improve metabolism in their children.

The results of this study could have lifelong benefits for your child and improve the health and life expectancy of thousands of Kiwi kids

What?

1. We will provide you with free fresh fish oil capsules or olive oil capsules to take throughout your pregnancy and until your baby is 3 months old.
2. We will assess you twice at our clinic at the Liggins Institute during your pregnancy.
3. We will also assess you and your baby for the first 12 months.

Who?

We would like you to be a part of the study if you:

• Are less than 20 weeks pregnant
• Are aged18–40
  
• Are a non-smoker and do not have diabetes

We are keen to equally represent Māori, Pacific and other New Zealand women in the study and encourage you all to apply if you meet our criteria

Where?

The clinic at the Liggins Institute is located in the University of Auckland Grafton Campus, 85 Park road, Grafton, Auckland (close to Auckland Hospital).

It doesn’t cost you anything to participate. In fact, we will reimburse you for your costs of attending our clinic in central Auckland.

I want to be involved!

The trial is already underway so we would love to hear from you if you are interested in participating, or if you would like to know more.

Simply email your name and phone number to fishoilpreg@auckland.ac.nz
Or text “Fish Oil Trial” and your name to 0276045240.

Sarah Vaafusuaga (Study Midwife) or Dr Ben Albert (Lead Researcher) will contact you within 2 working days

What can I do today?

Getting more Omega 3 fats into your diet is easy – try oily fish, like fresh salmon or mackerel. Canned fish, like sardines, are also great sources of Omega 3 and are a more affordable option.

Pregnant women (as well as women trying to conceive or currently breastfeeding) should aim to eat two portions of oily fish per week. A serving is about 150 grams. Why not try a poached salmon fillet with iron-rich spinach and baked kumara?

More research is needed to understand the health benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil so we are not advising expectant mothers to include fish oil supplements in their diets just yet.