Pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Group leader
The research group started its first regular meetings in the New Year 2021, and is the newest research group at the pediatric clinic. We research common issues in the clinic such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, eating disorders in young children, nutrition in intestinal failure/serious illness and gastrostomy.
OUS has a regional function for children/adolescents with intestinal failure and short bowel syndrome. This is a fairly small group of patients, but with significant morbidity and risk of nutritional deficiency. Nutritional outcomes in this group have been mapped. An intervention with prebiotics has been carried out in a randomized study where data collection was completed in 2023. The purpose is to study whether such supplements can improve quality of life and gastrointestinal symptoms, affect intestinal flora and reduce the occurrence of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. The study is part of a PhD thesis (Rut Anne Thomassen, supervisors Anne Charlotte Brun/Christine Henriksen). The first article in this work has now been published, the second has been submitted and the last is in the analysis phase.
At OUS, endoscopic examinations of children are performed in a large volume with 7-900 examinations annually. We have established a general biobank based on endoscopic examinations. The purpose is to collect blood samples, biopsies and stool samples to study disease markers and to gain knowledge about possible disease mechanisms. The biological samples collected have been partially analyzed (biomarkers in stool in celiac disease), and we have a collaboration with a group at UiO on further proteomics studies. Stool samples are also analyzed for a new marker in IBD.
Eosinophilic esophagitis accounts for 15-20% of all endoscopies. In 2023, we started the EOSTIM study in collaboration with Helse Bergen, where the goal is to find non-invasive biomarkers that can reflect disease activity and in the long term possibly replace some of the many endoscopic controls for this patient group.
Within IBD and celiac disease, the group is engaged in larger epidemiological studies both in Norway and internationally. The large IBSEN III study has collected data on newly diagnosed IBD in South-Eastern Norway, and is the starting point for a PhD thesis (Svend Andersen, SiV, supervisors Gøri Perminow/Ketil Størdal). In a newly started international epidemiological study (PreventIBD), data from Denmark, Sweden and Norway/MoBa are used to study risk factors early in life such as early nutrition, infections/antibiotics and vitamin D and iron in pregnancy (PhD fellow; Håkon Stangeland Mundal). We also have a large registry study that includes all children/adolescents with IBD born in the period 2004-20, with data from the Medical Birth Register, the Norwegian Patient Register and the Prescription Register. Data from this is included in the PhD work for both Svend Andersen and Håkon Stangeland Mundal.
Research on celiac disease is carried out through the cohort studies MoBa and MIDIA, in a collaboration that also includes the EU project HEDIMED. A research line student (Maria Östman) is working with data from HEDIMED. In the period 1.8.2023-1.7.24 we have had two postdocs from Finland/Sweden who are engaged in this research with a focus on celiac disease. One of these (Elin Malmberg) has a position until 2026.
In 2023, the CeliaQLife study started, with funding for PhD from Southeastern Health from 1.1.2024 and support from the Norwegian Celiac Association, the Children's Foundation and OUS research funds. The study is three-part with the aim of studying quality of life and adherence to a gluten-free diet in celiac disease. Data has been collected in a large survey (abstract presented in the fall of 2024), and data collection in a group of cases and controls is ongoing with physical examination and biological samples (blood, stool, urine, DEXA measurements). A qualitative study is also part of the work, where interviews have been conducted.