Clinical trials

Pregnancy is a critical window for metabolic health, and early changes in blood sugar regulation can increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which affects both maternal and infant health. At the same time, the maternal gut microbiome changes throughout pregnancy and may play a role in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Kefir, a fermented milk drink containing beneficial bacteria and yeasts, may be a simple dietary strategy to support metabolic health during pregnancy, but its role in preventing GDM has not been well studied. This study will test whether drinking kefir daily from mid-pregnancy until routine GDM screening can improve glucose and insulin regulation, reduce the incidence of GDM, and modulate the maternal gut microbiome and metabolites, among other outcomes. Pregnant individuals will be randomly assigned to either a kefir group or a control group receiving usual prenatal care. Researchers will collect blood glucose and insulin measures, dietary information, stool samples, and body composition data across pregnancy and postpartum to evaluate metabolic and microbiome-related changes. As one of the first studies to examine kefir as an early pregnancy intervention for GDM prevention, this study will help clarify whether a practical, food-based approach can improve maternal metabolic health. The findings may support future nutrition strategies aimed at reducing GDM risk and improving pregnancy outcomes.

Toddlerhood (ages 2-3) is a critical window when the gut microbiome is still developing and eating habits are being established. Yet, many Canadian toddlers eat diets high in sugar and salt, which may affect long-term health. This study will test whether a MED diet can improve dietary inflammation, gut health, and body composition in toddlers and whether a tailored nutrition education program for parents can help families maintain healthy eating patterns. In this study, toddlers will be randomly assigned to a 3-week MED diet or their usual diet. Families in the MED diet group will receive free meal boxes for the 3 weeks, plus guidance from a nutrition researcher through a structured education program. The standard diet group will continue their regular diet with general nutrition advice. Researchers will collect dietary information, body composition assessments, and stool samples to measure gut microbiome composition and metabolites. This first study of a controlled diet intervention in toddlers, combining behavioral support, high-quality food provision, and advanced gut microbiome analysis, will help understand how early diet shapes lifelong eating habits and health, guiding public health strategies and precision nutrition approaches to prevent chronic disease from early life.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training Postpartum (MB-EAT-P) program can improve infant feeding practices and maternal eating behaviors. Researchers will compare participants who receive the MB-EAT-P program immediately to those who receive it after an 8-week waitlist period. Participants in the intervention group will attend weekly 2-hour MB-EAT-P sessions for 8 weeks and practice mindfulness and mindful eating at home. Participants in both groups will participate in a recorded mealtime observations with their infant and complete surveys and dietary recalls at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention. This study is patient-oriented and co-developed with a Parent Advisory Committee to ensure relevance to postpartum individuals.

The goal of this trial is to learn if blood flow restriction training with treadmill walking is possible for individuals living with type 2 diabetes. It will also learn about how the blood flow restriction with treadmill walking could improve health. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is 6 weeks of treadmill walking with blood flow restriction reasonable for people with type 2 diabetes to perform? Does treadmill walking with blood flow restriction training help manage type 2 diabetes better than just treadmill walking? Researchers will compare treadmill walking with blood flow restriction to treadmill walking without blood flow restriction to see if blood flow restriction works to manage type 2 diabetes based on fitness and blood sugar levels. Participants will: Perform treadmill walking with or without blood flow restriction for 96 minutes a week for 6 weeks. Visit the lab before and after the exercise for tests and questionnaires.