Research article summary (published 6 Jun 2006):

Low maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy is associated with asthma in 5-year-old children.

Full Abstract

RATIONALE:
We have previously reported an association between reduced maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy and wheezing in 2-yr-old children.

OBJECTIVES:
To assess whether maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy is associated with asthma-related outcomes in children aged 5 yr.

METHODS:
A longitudinal cohort study of 1,861 children born to women recruited during pregnancy and followed up at 5 yr.

MEASUREMENTS:
Maternal nutrient status was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire and plasma levels. Respiratory and food frequency questionnaires were completed at 5 yr and children were invited for measurement of spirometry and skin-prick testing.

MAIN RESULTS:
Symptom and food frequency questionnaire data were available for 1,253 and 1,120 children, respectively; 700 children were skin prick tested, and FEV(1) was measured in 478 and exhaled nitric oxide in 167 children. In 5-yr-old children, maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with wheeze in previous year (odds ratio per intake quintile, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.95), asthma ever (0.84, 0.72-0.98), asthma and wheeze in previous year (0.79, 0.65-0.95), and persistent wheezing (0.77, 0.63-0.93). Maternal plasma alpha-tocopherol during pregnancy was positively associated with post-bronchodilator FEV(1) at 5 yr, with a 7-ml (95% confidence interval, 0-14; p = 0.04) increase in FEV(1) per microg/ml alpha-tocopherol. Maternal zinc intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with asthma ever (0.83, 0.71-0.78) and active asthma (0.72, 0.59-0.89). There were no associations between children's nutrient intake and respiratory outcomes.

CONCLUSION:
Maternal intake of foods containing vitamin E and zinc during pregnancy is associated with differences in the risks of developing childhood wheeze and asthma.

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Author information

Author/s: Devereux, Graham (G); Turner, Stephen W (SW); Craig, Leone C A (LC); McNeill, Geraldine (G); Martindale, Sheelagh (S); Harbour, Paul J (PJ); Helms, Peter J (PJ); Seaton, Anthony (A);

Affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZB, UK. g.devereux(-atsign-)abdn.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Sep; vol 174 (issue 5) : pp 499-507

Dates: Created 2006/08/25; Completed 2006/10/20; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 16763215, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Antioxidants - administration & dosage; metabolism Asthma - blood; epidemiology Child Nutritional Physiology Phenomena Child, Preschool Cohort Studies Female Humans

Humans Hypersensitivity - blood; epidemiology Pregnancy Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Respiratory Sounds - etiology Trace Elements - administration & dosage Vitamin E - administration & dosage; blood Zinc - administration & dosage

Associated Chemicals: Antioxidants (0) ; Trace Elements (0) ; Vitamin E (1406-18-4) ; Zinc (7440-66-6)

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