The research group is responsible for nutrition in several national and international birth cohort and randomized trial studies on the aetiology of type 1 diabetes and other immune-mediated diseases. The work of the research group consists of studies examining the roles of child’s diet, nutritional status and growth and maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on the progression from genetic disease susceptibility to development of islet cell autoimmunity and further type 1 diabetes during childhood. We also examine the impact of nutrition and growth on the development of allergic diseases and obesity in children and conduct methodological and descriptive research on childhood nutrition. We have made pilot studies on Finnish maternal and child welfare clinics to study the implementation of research results in practice.
The most important studies we are working with are the Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study, international TRIGR and TEDDY studies, EDIA study, FoodStep daycare trial on the promotion of healthy and environmentally sustainable diet, and national Youth nutrition study.
Research focus and goals
Nutrition during childhood, pregnancy and lactation and the significance of nutrition in the development of type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, allergic diseases, asthma and obesity in childhood, Promotion of healthy and environmentally sustainable diet in children and adolescents.
Contact persons
Principal researcher
Professor Emerita Suvi M. Virtanen
suvi.virtanen [at] tuni.fi (suvi[dot]virtanen[at]tuni[dot]fi)