Best Lives

Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world, with approximately one in 140 Canadians currently diagnosed — a number expected to climb to one in 100 by 2030. In this episode, registered dietitian and PhD student Mathilde Wilhelmy joins us to discuss CALINA-IBD, a new study from Dr. Genelle Lunken's Lab at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and UBC. The study is exploring how the maternal gut microbiome and diet during pregnancy, along with breastmilk composition, may shape infant gut inflammation and long-term health.The conversation unpacks what fecal calprotectin (FCP) is, why infants naturally have higher levels than adults, and how elevated infant FCP has been linked to later risks of asthma, eczema, and atopic dermatitis. Mathilde also discusses why the team is paying attention to certain anti-inflammatory bacteria, well-established benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet for gut microbiome diversity, and what human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) — the special sugars found almost exclusively in breastmilk — might reveal about how to better support at-risk infants. She walks through the four-timepoint study design, the at-home participant experience, and a machine learning collaboration with Dr. Amy Lee at SFU that aims to one day help clinicians identify higher-risk infants earlier and guide more personalized care.Learn more about the topics discussed in this episode:CALINA-IBD study, Lunken Lab, BC Children's Hospital Research InstituteExploring the gut microbiota and dietary contributors to elevated infant fecal calprotectin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A pilot study (CALINA-IBD), ClinicalTrials.govInterested in participating? Click here to take the screening questionnaire.Please note: The CALINA-IBD study also collects breast milk samples and breast skin swabs at two postpartum timepoints (two weeks and three months). This portion of the study is optional.Participants who choose to take part will be provided with all necessary collection materials. A breast pump can also be provided if they do not already have one at home.For more information, please contact the study team at [email protected]. All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir