Exploring Fecal Calprotectin Levels, Maternal and Infant Microbiota, Infant Health, Nutrition, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes With Patient With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Canada80 participantsStarted 2026-03-20
Plain-language summary
The goal of this prospective longitudinal cohort study is to examine how the human microbiome of pregnant women-including bacteria and fungi in the gastrointestinal tract, vaginal canal, skin, and breastmilk-may influence infant gut inflammation, measured by fecal calprotectin (FCP) levels, and to identify factors that could inform dietary interventions to improve infant health outcomes. Specifically, the study aims to determine which maternal gut microbiome characteristics and dietary patterns during pregnancy are associated with elevated FCP levels in infants, and which infant gut microbiota compositions and dietary factors are linked to high FCP levels. Researchers will compare microbiome signatures and dietary factors in pregnant women and their infants with active or inactive IBD, as well as non-IBD controls, to identify microbial patterns that may predict infant gut inflammation. Participants will provide fecal samples at all study timepoints, one vaginal swab during the third trimester of pregnancy, and optional breastmilk and breast skin swab samples. They will also complete 3-day diet recalls using a smartphone app and participate in a longitudinal follow-up over 12 months after birth to monitor dietary patterns, microbiome profiles, and gut inflammation in both mother and infant.
Who can participate
Age range
19 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
All patients
* Pregnant individuals ≥19 years recruited during their first, second or early third trimester.
* Own or have regular access to a smartphone compatible with the study smartphone application RXFood.
IBD patients
● A documented IBD diagnosis (CD or UC) with active or quiescent disease.
Non-IBD controls ● Absence of IBD.
Exclusion Criteria:
All patients
* Inability to provide consent
* Previous gastrointestinal cancer or bowel surgery
* Renal disease
* HIV/AIDS or other serious infection
* Fetal chromosomal or structural abnormalities
* Other immune-mediated diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, primary sclerosing cholangitis)
* Prebiotic, probiotic or postbiotic supplements in the month prior to first sample collection
* Gastroenteritis during or 1 month before the first sample collection
* Travel outside of Canada and the United States in the month prior to first sample collection
IBD patients
● Pregnant individuals with active perianal or extra-intestinal disease in IBD
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Correlation between maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy (third trimester) and early postpartum period (2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year) and infant FCP levels at 3 months and 1 year of age, accounting for maternal adherence to Mediterranean diet.