HealthNuts
The HealthNuts study of 5,300 children is the world’s first comprehensive population-based study of food allergy with an objective measurement of true food allergy. The study will enable researchers to better understand the natural history of allergic disorders including food allergy, asthma, eczema and hay fever and the risk factors for developing these conditions in the first six years of life. The study will have important implications for clinical guidelines and public health policy.
Wave 1 – data collected from whole sample (questionnaire and Skin Prick Test (SPT) at immunisation centre). Participants who recorded any SPT wheal size greater than the negative control were invited to participate in a food challenge
Wave 2 – data collected from whole sample (questionnaire only). In addition, anyone food allergic at wave 1 food challenge or who indicated the presence of new food allergy symptoms since wave 1 were offered a food challenge
Wave 3 – data collected from whole sample (questionnaire and allergy assessment – Royal Children’s Hospital or home visit). In addition, anyone food allergic when last seen, had a positive SPT in wave 3 or who indicated the presence of new food allergy symptoms since last seen were offered a food challenge.
In the below tables:
(a) – data collected for whole sample
(b) – data collected for clinic/food challenge subsample
| Year | 2007-2010 | 2011-2014 | 2011-2014 | 2013- | 2013- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | W1 | W2(a) | W2(b) | W3(a) | W3(b) |
| Age | ~ 12 months | 4 years | 4 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| # | whole sample: 5300; food challenge: 1026 |
whole sample: 4289 | clinic/food challenge: 540 | whole sample: ongoing | clinic/food challenge: 300 |
| Identifiers | |||||
| Allergies | |||||
| Anthropometrics | |||||
| Behavioural problems | Behavioural problems | ||||
| Birth | |||||
| Cardiovascular health | |||||
| Demographics | |||||
| Education and childcare | Education and childcare | ||||
| Environmental exposures (toxins and allergens) | Environmental exposures (toxins and allergens) | ||||
| General health | |||||
| Imaging | |||||
| Medications and supplements | |||||
| Mental health | |||||
| Nutrition | |||||
| Physical activity and lifestyle | |||||
| Relationships | |||||
| Resilience and wellbeing | |||||
| Respiratory health | Respiratory health | ||||
| Sleep | Sleep | ||||
| Substance use | Substance use | ||||
| Sun exposure | |||||
| Temperament and personality | |||||
| Biosamples | Biosamples | ||||
| Linkage to other databases | Linkage to other databases | ||||
| Featured measures | |||||
| Study Summary | |
|---|---|
| Study name | HealthNuts |
| Study abbreviation | HealthNuts |
| Current principal investigator/s | Professor Katie Allen |
| Primary Institution | Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
| Collaborating Institution/s | The Royal Children’s Hospital The University of Melbourne |
| Major funding sources | National Health and Medical Research Council IIhan Food Allergy Foundation AnaphylaxiStop Australian Egg Corporation Pty. US Department of Defense |
| Study website | https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/healthnuts |
| Key reference for study (published study protocol) | Osborne, N.J., Koplin, J.J., Martin, P.E., Gurrin, L.C., Thiele, L., Tang, M.L., Ponsonby, A-L., Dharmage, S.C. and Allen, K.J., for HealthNuts Study Investigators. (2010). The HealthNuts population-based study of paediatric food allergy: validity, safety and acceptability. Clin Exp Allergy, 40(10): 1516-22 |
| Are data available to others outside study team? | Yes, on request, with provision of an analysis plan and approval from investigator group. |
| Study focus (e.g. social development) | Understanding the natural history of allergic disorders including food allergy, asthma, eczema and hay fever. |
| Sampling frame | 12-month-old infants presenting for routine scheduled vaccination at local government-led immunisation clinics across Melbourne, Australia. |
| Study type (e.g. randomised control trial, cohort, case-control) | Longitudinal cohort study |
| Year commenced | 2007 |
| Ongoing recruitment? | No |
| Commencement sample (N) | 5300 |
| Intergenerational (e.g. offspring)? | No |
| Imaging (e.g. fMRI, ultrasound, retinal photograph)? | No |
| Linkage (e.g. BioGrid, VPDC, NAPLAN, Medicare)? | School Entrant Health Questionnaire Medicare VPDC Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) |
| Biosamples (e.g. buccal, blood, hair)? | Blood Faeces Saliva Newborn Screening (Guthrie) card |
| Ethics approvals or requirements (e.g. specific, extended, unspecified, other)? | This project only (Specific consent) Future research related to this project (Extended consent) Any future research (Unspecified consent) |
| Year | Age (mean, range) | Eligible sample (not deceased, not withdrawn) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 – 2010 | 1 year (12.6 months) | 5300 (whole cohort) 1026 (clinic/food challenge) |
| 2011 – 2014 | 4 years | 4289 (81.3%) (whole cohort) 540 (clinic/food challenge) |
| 2013 – ongoing | 6 years | To be determined (ongoing) (whole cohort) 300 (clinic/food challenge) |
HealthNuts Study
Gastro and Food Allergy
MCRI
Royal Children’s Hospital
Flemington Rd, Parkville
VIC 3052
Ph: +61 3 8341 6266
Email: health.nuts@mcri.edu.au