Abstract
To quantify the effect of a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as well as the consumption of olive oil (OO), on the risk of having a small for gestational age infants (SGA), a matched case-control study was conducted in Spain. Dietary intake during pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Three indices were used to evaluate the adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) (Predimed, Trichopoulou and Panagiotakos). Crude odds ratios (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. Results were stratified by severity of SGA: moderate (percentiles 6–10), and severe (percentiles ≤5). For moderate, four or more points in the Predimed´s index was associated with a 41% reduction of having SGA compared with women with a score ≤3, aOR = 0.59 (95% CI 0.38–0.98); for severe, the reduction in risk was not statistically significant. Similar results were found when the other MD indexes were used. An intake of OO above 5 g/day was associated with a lower risk of SGA (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34–0.85); statistical significance was observed for moderate SGA (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.30–0.96), but not for severe SGA (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.24–1.07), although the magnitude of ORs were quite similar. Adherence to a MD and OO intake is associated with a reduced risk of SGA.
Highlights
A newborn’s weight is considered the main determinant of perinatal morbidity and mortality [1,2], both in the short and the long term [3,4]
The cases had a history of preterm deliveries or low birth weight infants more frequently compared to controls, 12.4% vs. 5.0% respectively (p < 0.001), and for preeclampsia, 8.9% vs. 2.1% (p < 0.001)
Our results suggest that maternal adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of small for gestational age infants (SGA) newborn; and mainly for those cases with a moderate degree of disease
Summary
A newborn’s weight is considered the main determinant of perinatal morbidity and mortality [1,2], both in the short and the long term [3,4]. Considers birth weight, gestational age, and sex of the newborn. Restricted fetal growth is associated with an increased risk of childhood morbidity and chronic diseases in adulthood such as respiratory infections, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders [5,6]. Maternal risk factors associated with SGA can be socio-demographic variables such as age or socioeconomic status, chronic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, risk factors during pregnancy, including quality of prenatal care and maternal lifestyle risk factors [7]. Maternal nutrition is recognized as one of the main determinants of fetal growth. The maternal diet’s composition affects the fetal growth and determines the metabolic patterns of both mother and offspring [3,4,8,9,10]
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