Maternal food consumption during pregnancy and asthma, respiratory and atopic symptoms in 5-year-old children.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Associations between maternal vitamin E, vitamin D and zinc intakes during pregnancy and asthma, wheeze and eczema in 5-year-old children have previously been reported. A study was undertaken to investigate whether maternal intake of specific foods during pregnancy is associated with asthma and allergic outcomes in the same children.

METHODS:
A longitudinal birth cohort study was conducted in 1,924 children born to women recruited during pregnancy. Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cohort children were followed up at 5 years by symptom questionnaire and FFQ. Food groups of interest were fruit, vegetables, fruit juice, whole grain products, fish, dairy products and fat spreads. Trends across outcome groups defined by level of food intake are presented.

RESULTS:
1,253 children participated at 5 years and maternal FFQ data were available for 1,212. No consistent associations were found between childhood outcomes and maternal intake of the analysed foods except for apples and fish. Maternal apple intake was beneficially associated with ever wheeze (OR highest vs lowest tertile 0.63, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.95), ever asthma (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.92) and doctor-confirmed asthma (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.82) in the children. Maternal fish consumption was beneficially associated with doctor-confirmed eczema (OR >or=1/week vs never 0.57, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.92).

CONCLUSION:
There was no evidence for associations between maternal intake of most foods during pregnancy and asthma, respiratory and allergic outcomes in 5-year-old children, except for apples and fish. Consumption of apples and fish during pregnancy may have a protective effect against the development of childhood asthma and allergic disease.

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Author information

Author/s: Willers, S M (SM); Devereux, G (G); Craig, L C A (LC); McNeill, G (G); Wijga, A H (AH); Abou El-Magd, W (W); Turner, S W (SW); Helms, P J (PJ); Seaton, A (A);

Affiliation: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht University, P O Box 80178, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. S.Willers(-atsign-)iras.uu.nl

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Thorax (Thorax), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Sep; vol 62 (issue 9) : pp 773-9

Dates: Created 2007/08/29; Completed 2007/10/04;

PMID: 17389754, 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.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Thorax. 2007 Sep;62(9):746-8. (PMID: 17726168)

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