top of page

Research

MaxiMoM

Anchor 1

Nicole Bando, Kathryn Walton, Deborah L. O'Connor, Magdalena Janus, Sharon L. Unger. Examination of school readiness and factors related to developmental vulnerability in children born very low birth weight. Child Care Health Dev. 2022. doi: 10.1111/cch.13058

Michelle R.Asbury, Sara Shama, Jong Yup Sa, Nicole Bando, James Butcher, Elena M.Comelli, Julia K. Copeland, Victoria Forte, Alex  Kiss, Philip M.Sherman, Alain Stintzi, Amel Taibi, Christopher Tomlinson, Sharon Unger, Pauline W.Wang, Dorah L.O’Connor. Human milk nutrient fortifiers alter the developing gastrointestinal microbiota of very-low-birth-weight infants. Cell Host & Microbe. 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.07.011

Xu J, Shin J, McGee M, Unger S, Bando N, Sato J, Vandewouw M, Patel Y, Branson HM, Paus T, Pausova Z, O'Connor DL. Intake of mother's milk by very low birth weight infants and variation in DNA methylation of genes involved in neurodevelopment at 5.5 years. AJCN. 2022.doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac221


Sato J, McGee M, Bando N, Law N, Unger S, O'Connor DL. Diet Quality and Cognitive Performance in Children Born Very Low Birth Weight. Front Nutr. 2022 Jul 19. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.874118.

Mildon A, Francis J, Stewart S, Underhill B, Ng YM, Rousseau C, Di Ruggiero E, Dennis CL, Kiss A, O'Connor DL, Sellen DW. Associations between use of expressed human milk at 2 weeks postpartum and human milk feeding practices to 6 months: a prospective cohort study with vulnerable women in Toronto, Canada. BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055830.

Kothari A, Pitino MA, Unger S, Perreault V, Doyen A, Pouliot Y, McGeer AJ, Stone D, O'Connor DL. Preservation of Anti-cytomegalovirus Activity in Human Milk Following High-Pressure Processing Compared to Holder Pasteurization. Front Nutr. 2022 May 19. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.918814. eCollection 2022.

Sato J, Vandewouw MM, Safar K, Ng DVY, Bando N, O'Connor DL, Unger SL, Pang E, Taylor MJ. Diet Quality and Cognitive Performance in Children Born Very Low Birth Weight. Front Syst Neurosci. 2022 Apr 7. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.812111. eCollection 2022.

Beggs MR, Bando N, Unger S, O'Connor DL. State of the evidence from clinical trials on human milk fortification for preterm infants. Acta Paediatr. 2022 Feb 10. doi: 10.1111/apa.16283.

Walton K, Daniel AI, Mahood Q, Vaz S, Law N, Unger S, O'Connor DL. Eating Behaviours, Caregiver Feeding Interactions and Dietary Patterns of Children Born Preterm: A Systematic Review & Meta-analysis. Adv Nutr. 2022 Feb 14:nmac017. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmac017.

Hopperton KE, Pitino MA, Walton K, Kiss A, Unger SL, O'Connor DL, Bazinet RP. Docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid levels are correlated in human milk: Implications for new European infant formula regulations. Lipids. 2022 Feb 15. doi: 10.1002/lipd.12338.

Walton K, McGee M, Sato J, Law N, Hopperton KE, Bando N, Kiss A, Unger S, O'Connor DL. Social-Emotional Functioning and Dietary Intake among Children Born with a Very Low Birth Weight. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2022 Feb 23. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0434.

 

O'Connor DL. Breastfeeding: when will enough evidence be enough? Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Nov 8;114(5):1577-1578. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab252.

Tyebally Fang M, Chatzixiros E, Grummer-Strawn L, Engmann C, Israel-Ballard K, Mansen K, O'Connor DL, Unger S, Herson M, Weaver G, Biller-Andorno N. Developing global guidance on human milk banking. Bull World Health Organ. 2021 Dec 1;99(12):892-900. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.286943.

Shama S, Unger S, Pouliot Y, Doyen A, Suwal S, Pencharz P, Pitino MA, Sergius M, Aufreiter S, Stone D, O'Connor DL. A Human Milk-Based Protein Concentrate Developed for Preterm Infants Retains Bioactive Proteins and Supports Growth of Weanling Rats. J Nutr. 2021 Apr 8;151(4):840-847. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa383.

Wong RK, Pitino MA, Mahmood R, Zhu IY, Stone D, O'Connor DL, Unger S, Chan TCY. Predicting Protein and Fat Content in Human Donor Milk Using Machine Learning. J Nutr. 2021 Jul 1;151(7):2075-2083. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab069.

 

Hopperton KE, Pitino MA, Chouinard-Watkins R, Shama S, Sammut N, Bando N, Williams BA, Walton K, Kiss A, Unger SL, Bazinet RP, O'Connor DL. Determinants of fatty acid content and composition of human milk fed to infants born weighing <1250 g. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Oct 4;114(4):1523-1534. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab222.

Daniel AI, Shama S, Ismail S, Bourdon C, Kiss A, Mwangome M, Bandsma RHJ, O'Connor DL. Maternal BMI is positively associated with human milk fat: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Apr 6;113(4):1009-1022. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa410.

 

Unger S, Christie-Holmes N, Guvenc F, Budylowski P, Mubareka S, Gray-Owen SD, O'Connor DL. Holder pasteurization of donated human milk is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2. CMAJ 2021. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.201309

Castro M, Pitino M, Bando N, Aufreiter S, Stone D, O’Connor DL, Unger S. Term infants fed exclusively with donor milk may require vitamin C supplementation. JPEN 2021. DOI: 10.1002/jpen.2073

Francis J, Mildon A, Stewart S, Underhill B, Ismail S, Di Ruggiero E, Tarasuk V, Sellen DW, O'Connor DL. Breastfeeding rates are high in a prenatal community support program targeting vulnerable women and offering enhanced postnatal lactation support: a prospective cohort study. Int J Equity Health. 2021 Mar 3;20(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s12939-021-01386-6.

 

Pitino MA, O'Connor DL, McGeer AJ, Unger S. The impact of thermal pasteurization on viral load in human milk and other matrices: A rapid review. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism 46(1) 10-26, 2021. DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2020-0388

LeMay-Nedjelski L, Asbury MR, Butcher J, Ley SH, Hanley AJ, Kiss A, Unger S, Copeland JK, Wang PW, Stintzi A, O'Connor DL. Maternal Diet and Infant Feeding Practices Are Associated with Variation in the Human Milk Microbiota at 3 Months Postpartum in a Cohort of Women with High Rates of Gestational Glucose Intolerance. J Nutr. 2021 Feb 1;151(2):320-329. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa248.

Sato J, Vandewouw MM, Bando N, Branson HM, O'Connor DL, Unger SL, Taylor MJ. White matter alterations and cognitive outcomes in children born very low birth weight. Neuroimage Clin. 2021;32:102843. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102843.

  

Sergius-Ronot, Suwal S, Shama S, Chamberland J, Unger S, O’Connor DL, Pouliot Y, Doyen A. Preparation of human milk protein concentrate by ultrafiltration. Journal of Dairy Science 20:S0022-0302(21)00073-4, 2021. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18762

 

McGuire MK, Seppo A, Goga A, Buonsenso D, Collado MC, Donovan SM, Muller JA, Ofman G, Monroy-Valle M, O’Connor DL, Pace RM, Van de Perre P. Best practices for human milk collection for COVID-19 Research.  Breastfeeding Medicine 16(1):29-38, 2021. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2020.0296

 

McGee M, Unger S, Hamilton J, Birken CS, Pausova Z, Kiss A, Bando N, O’Connor DL. Associations between diet quality and body composition in young children born very low body weight. Journal of Nutrition 19;150(11):2961-2968, 2020. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa281

 

Asbury MR, Butcher J, Copeland JK, Unger S, Bando N, Comelli E, Kiss A, LeMay-Nedjelski L, Sherman PM, Stintzi A, Tomlinson C, Wang PW, O’Connor DL. Mothers of preterm Infants have individualized breast milk microbiota that changes temporally based on maternal characteristics. Cell Host & Microbe 28:1-14, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.08.001

 

LeMay-Nedjelski L, Butcher J, Ley SH, Asbury MR, Hanley A, Kiss A, Unger S, Copeland JK, Wang PW, Zinman B, Stintzi A, O’Connor DL. Examining the relationship between maternal body size, gestational glucose tolerance status, mode of delivery and ethnicity on human milk microbiota at three months post-partum. BMC Microbiology 20(1):1-14, 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01901-9

 

Unger S, Christie-Holmes N, Guvenc F, Budylowski P, Mubareka S, Gray-Owen S, O’Connor DL. Holder pasteurization of donated human milk is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2. CMAJ 4;192(31):E871-E874, 2020. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.201309

 

LeMay-Nedjelski L, Asbury MR, Butcher J, Ley SH, Hanley A, Kiss A, Unger S, Copeland JK, Wang PW, Stintzi A, O’Connor DL. Maternal diet and infant feeding practices are associated with variation in the human milk microbiota at three months postpartum in a cohort of women with high rates of gestational glucose intolerance. Journal of Nutrition nxaa248, 2020. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa248

 

DiLauro S, Russell J, McCrindle B, Tomlinson C, Unger S, O'Connor DL. Growth of cardiac infants with post-surgical chylothorax can be supported using modified fat breast milk with proactive nutrient-enrichment and advancement feeding protocols; an open-label trial. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 2020 38:19-27, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.05.001

 

McGee M, Unger S, Hamilton J, Birken CS, Pausova Z, Vanderloo LM, Bando N, O’Connor DL. Lean mass accretion in children born very low birth weight is significantly associated with estimated changes from sedentary time to light physical activity. Pediatric Obesity 15(5):e12610, 2020. DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12610

 

Francis J, Mildon A, Stewart S, Underhill B, Tarasuk W, Di Ruggiero E, Sellen D, O’Connor DL. Vulnerable mothers’ experiences breastfeeding with access to an enhanced community lactation support program: A qualitative exploration. Maternal and Child Nutrition 16(3):e12957, 2020. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12957

 

Miyake H, Lee C, Chusilp S, Bhalla M, Li B, Pitino M, Seo S, O’Connor DL, Pierro A. Human breast milk exosomes attenuate intestinal damage. Pediatric Surgery International 36(2):155-163, 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s00383-019-04599-7

Asbury MR, Unger S, Kiss A, Ng DVY, Luk Y, Bando N, Bishara R, Tomlinson C, O’Connor DL. Optimizing the growth of very low birth weight infants requires targeting both nutritional and non-nutritional modifiable factors specific to stage of hospitalization. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 110(6):1384-1394, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz227

 

Hopperton KE, O’Connor DL, Bando N, Conway AM, Ng DVY, Kiss A, Jackson J, Ly L, Unger SL. Nutrient enrichment of human milk with human milk based fortifiers for infants born <1250 g: 18 month neurodevelopment follow-up of a randomized clinical trial. Current Developments in Nutrition 3(12):1-8, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzz129

 

McGee M, Unger S, Hamilton J, Birken CS, Pausova Z, Kiss A, Bando N, O’Connor DL. Adiposity and fat-free mass of children born with very low birth weight do not differ in children fed supplemental donor milk compared with those fed preterm formula. Journal of Nutrition 150(2):331-339, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz234

 

Kwan C, Fusch G, Rochow N, Fusch C, MAMAS Study Collaborators. Milk analysis using milk analyzers in a standardized setting (MAMAS) study: A multisite quality initiative. Clinical Nutrition S0261-5614(19)33040-7, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2019.08.028

 

Pitino M, Alashmali SM, Hopperton KE, Unger S, Pouliot Y, Doyen A, O’Connor DL, Bazinet RP. Oxylipin concentration but not fatty acid composition, is altered in human donor milk pasteurized using both thermal and non-thermal techniques. British Journal of Nutrition.122(1):47-55, 2019. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114519000916

 

Pitino M, Stone S, O’Connor DL, Unger S. Is frozen human milk that is refused by mother’s own infant suitable for human milk bank donation? Breastfeeding Medicine 14(4):271-275, 2019. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2018.0193

 

Pitino M, Unger S, Doyen A, Pouliot Y, Aufreiter S, Stone D, Kiss A, O’Connor DL. High hydrostatic pressure processing better preserves the nutrient and bioactive compound composition of human donor milk. Journal of Nutrition 149(3):497-504, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy302

 

Castro M, Asbury M, Shama S, Stone D, Yoon EW, O’Connor DL, Unger S. Energy and fat intake for preterm infants fed donor milk is significantly impacted by enteral feeding method. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 43(1):162-165, 2019. DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1430

 

Francis J, Unger S, Bando N, Vance A, Gibbins S, Kiss A, Church P, Sellen D, O’Connor DL. Post-discharge feeding of very-low-birth-weight infants: adherence to nutrition guidelines. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 67(3):401-408, 2018. DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002041

 

O’Connor DL, Kiss A, Tomlinson C, Bando N, Bayliss A, Campbell D, Daneman A, Francis J, Kotsopoulos K, Shah P, Vaz S, Williams B, Unger S. Nutrient enrichment of human milk with human and bovine milk-based fortifiers for infants born weighing <1250 g: A randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 108(1):108-116, 2018. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy067

 

Elmekkawi A, O’Connor DL, Stone D, Yoon EW, Larocque M, McGeer A, Unger S. Impact of neonatal intensive care unit admission on bacterial colonization of donated human milk. Journal of Human Lactation 34(2):350-354, 2018. DOI: 10.1177/0890334417753941

 

Butcher J, Unger S, Li J, Bando N, Romain G, Francis J, Mottawea W, Mack D, Stintzi A, O’Connor DL. Independent of birth mode or gestational age, very low birth-weight infants fed their mothers' milk rapidly develop personalized microbiotas low in Bifidobacterium. Journal of Nutrition 148(3):326-335, 2018. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxx071

 

Trang S, Zupancic JAF, Unger S, Kiss A, Bando N, Wong S, Gibbins S, O’Connor DL of behalf of the GTA DoMINO Feeding Group. Cost-effectiveness of supplemental donor milk versus formula for very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 141(3):e20170737, 2018. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-0737

 

Ng D, Unger S, Asbury M, Kiss A, Bishara R, Bando N, Tomlinson C, Gibbins S, O’Connor DL. Neonatal morbidity count is associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving recommendations for protein, lipid and energy in very low birth weight infants: A prospective cohort study. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 42(3):623-632, 2017. DOI: 10.1177/0148607117710441

 

Ng D, Brennan-Donnan J, Unger S, Bando N, Gibbins S, Nash A, Kiss A, O’Connor DL. How close are we to achieving energy and nutrient goals for very low birth weight infants in the first week? Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 41(3):500-506, 2017. DOI: 10.1177/0148607115594674

 

O’Connor DL, Gibbins S, Kiss A, Bando N, Brennan-Donnan J, Ng E, Campbell DM, Vaz S, Fusch C, Asztalos E, Church P, Kelly E, Ly L, Daneman A, Unger S; for the GTA DoMINO Feeding Group. Effect of supplemental donor human milk compared with preterm formula on neurodevelopment of very low-birth-weight infants at 18 months: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 316(18):1897-1905, 2016. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.16144

 

DiLauro S, Unger S, Stone D, O'Connor DL. Human milk for ill and medically compromised infants: Strategies and ongoing innovation. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 40(6):768-782, 2016. DOI: 10.1177/0148607116629676

 

Kocel S, Russell J, O’Connor DL. Fat-modified breast milk resolves chylous pleural effusion in infants with post-surgical chylothorax but is associated with slow growth. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 40(4):543-551, 2016. DOI: 10.1177/0148607114566464

 

Panczuk JK, Unger S, Francis J, Bando N, Kiss A, O’Connor DL. Introduction of bovine-based nutrient fortifier and gastrointestinal inflammation in very low birth weight infants as measured by fecal calprotectin. Breastfeeding Medicine 11(1):2-5, 2016. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2015.0125

 

O’Connor DL, Ewaschuk JB, Unger S. Human milk pasteurization: benefits and risks. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition in Metabolic Care 18(3):269-275, 2015. DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000160

 

Unger S, Stintzi A, Shah P, Mack D, O’Connor DL. The gut microbiota of the very low birth weight infant. Pediatric Research 77(1-2):205-213, 2015. DOI: 10.1038/pr.2014.162

 

Kasierer Y, O’Connor DL, Rutherford E, Rolnitsky A, Unger S. Implications for observant Jewish families in the provision of mother’s own and donor milk for their very low birth weight infant. Journal of Human Lactation 30(4):402-404, 2014. DOI: 10.1177/0890334414545538

 

Unger S, Gibbins S, Zupancic J, O’Connor DL. DoMINO: Donor milk for improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. BMC Pediatrics 14:123, 2014. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-123

 

Panczuk J, Unger S, O’Connor D, Lee SL. Human donor milk for the vulnerable infant: A Canadian perspective. International Breastfeeding Journal 9:4, 2014. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4358-9-4

 

Gibbins S, Wong S, Unger S, O’Connor DL. Donor human milk for preterm infants: practice considerations. Journal of Neonatal Nursing 19(4):175-181, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2013.04.002

 

Ley SH, Hanley AJ, Sermer M, Zinman B, O’Connor DL. Association of prenatal metabolic abnormalities with insulin and adiponectin concentrations in human milk. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 95(4):867-874, 2012. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.111.028431

 

O’Connor DL, Weishuhn K, Rovet J, Mirabella G, Jefferies A, Campbell DM, Asztalos E, Feldman M, Whyte H, Westall C on behalf of the Post-Discharge Feeding Study Group. Visual development of human milk–fed preterm infants provided with extra energy and nutrients after hospital discharge. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 36(3):349-353, 2012. DOI: 10.1177/0148607111414026

Anchor 2
Anchor 3
Anchor 4

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2022

2012

Anchor 5

2021

SickKids Research Institute

Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning

686 Bay Street

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5G 0A4

Department of Nutritional Sciences

University of Toronto

1 King's College Circle

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5S 1A8

© 2021 MaxiMoM Research

SickKids logo
Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto logo
Mount Sinai Hospital logo
bottom of page