Abstract
BackgroundConsumption of certain foods during pregnancy has been shown to have beneficial effects on childhood asthma and allergic disease development and aggravation. However, most studies provide conflicting results and the relationships between maternal preconceptional diet and risks of childhood asthma and allergic disease have not previously been explored. The objective of this study was to assess maternal diet during the year before pregnancy and the last 3 months of pregnancy and investigate their associations with the risks of asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in young children.MethodsThe study sample consisted of 1140 mother–child pairs from the EDEN cohort. Mothers had responded to the food frequency questionnaires used to assess diet before and during pregnancy. Children were followed up using health questionnaires. The health outcomes studied were: asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis by the age of 3 years.ResultsUsing multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, significant inverse associations were observed between cooked green vegetable consumption before pregnancy and childhood asthma; consumption of eggs and raw vegetables before and during pregnancy, consumption of grains before pregnancy, and consumption of cooked green vegetables during pregnancy and allergic rhinitis. For the first time, a significant positive association was found between meat intake during the preconceptional period and a risk of wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.ConclusionsBased on our findings, preconceptional and prenatal maternal intake of certain type of food groups may be preventive against asthma, wheezing and allergic rhinitis, whereas higher maternal intake of meat before pregnancy may increase the risk of wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in young children.
Highlights
The prevalence of allergies and asthma is increasing, suggesting the influence of the environment [1, 2]
Mothers Center, % Poitiers Nancy Age mean ± standard deviation (SD) < 25, % 25–34, % > 34, % body-mass index (BMI), mean ± SD Normal, % Overweight, % Moderately obese, % Severely obese, % Level of education, % Primary and below Secondary University and above Household income, % > 3000 euros/month Active smoking before pregnancy, % Smoking during pregnancy, % Maternal atopy Supplementation with vitamins and/or trace minerals, % During the year preceding pregnancy only During the 3rd trimester of pregnancy only During both periods Never Duration of gestation (WA), mean ± SD
Health variables By the age of 3, lifetime prevalence was of 10.18% for asthma, of 35.18% for wheezing, of 12.11% for allergic rhinitis and of 43.07% for atopic dermatitis
Summary
The prevalence of allergies and asthma is increasing, suggesting the influence of the environment [1, 2]. Whether gestational diet contributes to protecting their children from asthma and allergic dieases has been poorly investigated and the preconceptional period has not previously been explored. The answer to this question is important because diet is modifiable and it may be possible to carry out related public health interventions to prevent the development of asthma and allergic diseases during childhood. Dietary factors associated to allergic diseases likely begin to exercise their influence in utero In this context, it has been suggested that maternal diet during pregnancy may influence fetal immune responses and be involved in predisposition to allergies in childhood [7, 8]. The objective of this study was to assess maternal diet during the year before pregnancy and the last 3 months of pregnancy and investigate their associations with the risks of asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in young children
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