South Asian Birth Cohort
The START study aims to understand the environmental and genetic determinants of adiposity and related metabolic abnormalities among South Asians living in India and Canada.
The main objectives of the START study are:
- to characterize the in-utero environment by assessing the influence of antenatal maternal, paternal factors (e.g. medical history, dietary intake, smoking exposure, and psychosocial stress), and pregnancy factors (e.g. abnormal gestational glucose tolerance, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm births, and newborn small and large-for-gestational age birth weight) across diverse environments on newborn's body composition, birth weight and length;
- to study the association between early feeding practices (i.e. breastfeeding, weaning and complimentary feeding pattern) and post-natal growth and adiposity at 1 and 3 years after birth across diverse environments; and
- to study the association between specific micronutrient (vitamin B12, homocysteine and folate) status and gestational weight gain with body composition and birth weight across diverse environments.
Overview
- Acronym
- START
- Website
- START
- Investigators
-
- Contacts
-
General Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Start - End Year
- 2011 -
- General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
-
Pregnant women were recruited during their antenatal visits (first or second trimester) to their primary care practionner or obstetrician and were followed-up at delivery, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, and 60 months postpartum. Babies were followed-up at birth, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, and 60 months of age.
- Recruitment Target
-
- Families
- Number of Participants
- 3,024
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 3,024
- Supplementary information about number of participants
-
Mothers (3 sub-groups): 1512 participants
Children (3 sub-groups): 1512 participants
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
|
- By contacting the study representative: Dipika Desai (Population Health Research Institute)
Marker Papers
Anand S.S., Vasudevan A., Gupta M., Morrison K., Kurpad A., Teo K.K., Srinivasan K., The START Cohort Study Investigators. 2013. Rationale and design of South Asian Birth Cohort (START): a Canada-India collaborative study. BMC Public Health; 13(1):79.
PUBMED 23356884Supplementary Information
- Stearns, J. C., Zulyniak, M. A., de Souza, R. J., et al. (2017). Ethnic and diet-related differences in the healthy infant microbiome. Genome medicine, 9(1), 32.
- Anand, SS., Gupta, MK., Teo K, et al. (2017) Causes and Consequences of Gestational Diabetes in South Asians living in Canada: Results from a prospective cohort study. CMAJ Open vol. 5(3): E604-E611.
- Anand, S. S., et al. "What accounts for ethnic differences in newborn skinfold thickness comparing South Asians and White Caucasians? Findings from the START and FAMILY Birth Cohorts." International Journal of Obesity 40.2 (2016): 239-244.
- De Souza, R. J., Zulyniak, M. A., Desai, D., et al. (2016). Harmonization of Food-Frequency Questionnaires and Dietary Pattern Analysis in 4 Ethnically Diverse Birth Cohorts. The Journal of nutrition, 146(11), 2343-2350.
- Zulyniak M, de Souza R, Shaikh M, et al. The effects of a plant-based diet in pregnancy on birthweight — ethnicity. Under review BMJ open.
Timeline
Populations
START - Mothers Canada
The population is composed of women of South Asian origin living in Canada, aged 18 to 40 years, in their first or second trimester of a single-fetus pregnancy.
Selection Criteria
- Sex
-
Women only
- Minimum age
-
18
- Maximum age
-
40
- Pregnant Women
-
- First trimester
- Second trimester
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Canadian Provinces
-
- Ontario
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
-
Exclusion criteria:
- women with expected multiple births;
- women who have had more than four live births previously;
- surrogate mothers;
- women who conceived the fetus using artificial methods including in-vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination;
- women who suffer from severe chronic medical conditions including active cancer, severe infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B or C, or who are VDLR positive;
- women with significant heart disease;
- women with a seizure disorder requiring daily medication.
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Clinic patients
- Supplementary Information
-
Women were recruited in the Peel Ontario Region at the Brampton Civic Hospital, at the Credit Valley Hospital and at the Trillium Health Centre during their antenatal visits to their primary care or obstetrician.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 1,012
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 1,012
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Mothers Canada - Baseline |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Mothers Canada - Birth |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Mothers Canada - 3 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Mothers Canada - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 4 | START - Mothers Canada - 12 months |
|
2012 | 2017 | |
| 5 | START - Mothers Canada - 24 months |
|
2013 | 2017 | |
| 6 | START - Mothers Canada - 36 months |
|
2014 | 2017 | |
| 7 | START - Mothers Canada - 60 months |
|
2016 | 2017 |
START - Mothers Urban India
The population is composed of women of South Asian origin living in urban India, aged 18 to 40 years, in their first or second trimester of a single-fetus pregnancy.
Selection Criteria
- Sex
-
Women only
- Minimum age
-
18
- Maximum age
-
40
- Pregnant Women
-
- First trimester
- Second trimester
- Countries
-
- India
- Territory
- Karnataka State
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
-
Exclusion criteria:
- women with expected multiple births;
- women who have had more than four live births previously;
- surrogate mothers;
- women who conceived the fetus using artificial methods including in-vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination;
- women who suffer from severe chronic medical conditions including active cancer, severe infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B or C, or who are VDLR positive;
- women with significant heart disease;
- women with a seizure disorder requiring daily medication.
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Clinic patients
- Supplementary Information
-
Women were recruited in the St. John's Medical College Hospital in Karnataka State during their antenatal visits to their primary care or obstetrician.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 250
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 250
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Mothers Urban India - Baseline |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Mothers Urban India - Birth |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Mothers Urban India - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Mothers Urban India - 12 months |
|
2012 | 2017 | |
| 4 | START - Mothers Urban India - 24 months |
|
2013 | 2017 | |
| 5 | START - Mothers Urban India - 36 months |
|
2014 | 2017 | |
| 6 | START - Mothers Urban India - 60 months |
|
2016 | 2017 |
START - Mothers Rural India
The population is composed of women of South Asian origin living in rural India, aged 18 to 40 years, in their first or second trimester of a single-fetus pregnancy.
Selection Criteria
- Sex
-
Women only
- Minimum age
-
18
- Maximum age
-
40
- Pregnant Women
-
- First trimester
- Second trimester
- Countries
-
- India
- Territory
- Karnataka State
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
-
Exclusion criteria:
- women with expected multiple births;
- women who have had more than four live births previously;
- surrogate mothers;
- women who conceived the fetus using artificial methods including in-vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination;
- women who suffer from severe chronic medical conditions including active cancer, severe infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B or C, or who are VDLR positive;
- women with significant heart disease;
- women with a seizure disorder requiring daily medication.
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Clinic patients
- Supplementary Information
-
Women were recruited in the Snehalaya Hospital in Karnataka State during their antenatal visits to their primary care or obstetrician.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 250
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 250
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Mothers Rural India - Baseline |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Mothers Rural India - Birth |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Mothers Rural India - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Mothers Rural India - 12 months |
|
2012 | 2017 | |
| 4 | START - Mothers Rural India - 24 months |
|
2013 | 2017 | |
| 5 | START - Mothers Rural India - 36 months |
|
2014 | 2017 | |
| 6 | START - Mothers Rural India - 60 months |
|
2016 | 2017 |
START - Children Canada
The population is composed of babies of South Asian origin, born in Canada in the Peel Ontario Region between 2011 and 2013.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Countries
-
- Canada
- Canadian Provinces
-
- Ontario
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Other specific population : Babies of the pregnant women already included in the study.
- Supplementary Information
-
Babies were born at the Brampton Civic Hospital, at the Credit Valley Hospital and at the Trillium Health Centre, in the Peel Ontario Region.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 1,012
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 1,012
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Children Canada - Birth |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Children Canada - 3 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Children Canada - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Children Canada - 12 months |
|
|
2012 | 2017 |
| 4 | START - Children Canada - 24 months |
|
|
2013 | 2017 |
| 5 | START - Children Canada - 36 months |
|
|
2014 | 2017 |
| 6 | START - Children Canada - 48 months |
|
|
2015 | 2017 |
| 7 | START - Children Canada - 60 months |
|
|
2016 | 2017 |
START - Children Urban India
The population is composed of babies of South Asian origin, born in urban India in Karnataka State between 2011 and 2013.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Countries
-
- India
- Territory
- Karnataka State
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Other specific population : Babies of the pregnant women already included in the study.
- Supplementary Information
-
Babies were born at the St. John's Medical College Hospital in Karnataka State.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 250
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 250
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Children Urban India - Birth |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Children Urban India - 3 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Children Urban India - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Children Urban India - 12 months |
|
|
2012 | 2017 |
| 4 | START - Children Urban India - 24 months |
|
|
2013 | 2017 |
| 5 | START - Children Urban India - 36 months |
|
|
2014 | 2017 |
| 6 | START - Children Urban India - 48 months |
|
|
2015 | 2017 |
| 7 | START - Children Urban India - 60 months |
|
|
2016 | 2017 |
START - Children Rural India
The population is composed of babies of South Asian origin, born in rural India in Karnataka State between 2011 and 2013.
Selection Criteria
- Newborns
- Countries
-
- India
- Territory
- Karnataka State
- Ethnic Origin
-
- South Asian origin
Sources of Recruitment
- Specific Population
-
- Other specific population : Babies of the pregnant women already included in the study.
- Supplementary Information
-
Babies were born at the Snehalaya Hospital in Karnataka State.
Sample Size
- Number of Participants
- 250
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 250
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Data sources | Data sources - Biosamples | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | START - Children Rural India - Birth |
|
|
2011 | 2017 |
| 1 | START - Children Rural India - 3 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 2 | START - Children Rural India - 6 months |
|
2011 | 2017 | |
| 3 | START - Children Rural India - 12 months |
|
|
2012 | 2017 |
| 4 | START - Children Rural India - 24 months |
|
|
2013 | 2017 |
| 5 | START - Children Rural India - 36 months |
|
|
2014 | 2017 |
| 6 | START - Children Rural India - 48 months |
|
|
2015 | 2017 |
| 7 | START - Children Rural India - 60 months |
|
|
2016 | 2017 |
Participating Studies
| Acronym | Name | Study design | Countries |
|---|
Harmonization Initiatives Included
| Acronym | Name |
|---|
Datasets
| Name | Data Collection Events | Variables |
|---|
Areas of Information Collected
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Death
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Physical measures and assessments
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Laboratory measures
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Diseases
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Symptoms and signs
- Preschool, school and work life
- Medication and supplements
- Social environment and relationships
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Physical environment
- Health and community care services utilization
- Administrative information
Variables Content Summary
Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Networks
| Acronym | Name | Harmonization Initiatives | Individual Studies |
|---|
Last Update: 2026-05-27T09:18:16.328