Abstract
Findings on the role of Mediterranean-style diet (MSD) on duration of pregnancy and birth weight have been inconsistent and based largely on Non-Hispanic white populations, making it unclear as to whether they could extend to African Americans who are at a higher risk of unfavorable birth outcomes. Our study addresses this gap using a large urban, multiethnic, predominantly low-income cohort of mother-infant dyads from Boston, MA, USA. Dietary information was obtained via food frequency questionnaires; health information including birth outcomes were extracted from medical records. A Mediterranean-style diet score (MSDS) was formulated based on intake history, and linear and log-binomial regressions were performed to assess its association with birth outcomes. After adjustment, the lowest MSDS quintile from the overall sample was found to be associated with an increased relative risk (RR) of overall preterm birth (RR 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06–1.31), spontaneous preterm birth (1.28; 1.11–1.49), late preterm birth (1.21; 1.05–1.39), and low birth weight (1.11; 1.01–1.22), compared to the highest quintile. The findings were similar for the African American sample. Our study adds to the current understanding of the diet’s influence on birth outcomes by demonstrating that adherence to MSD may improve birth outcomes for African American women.
Highlights
IntroductionPreterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five years and affects more than fifteen million infants annually worldwide [1]
The difference was apparent on parity and diabetes statuses between the imputed and complete-case datasets
After adjusting for eight maternal sociodemographic and clinical variables, mothers in the first quintile of the overall sample were at 18% greater risk of overall Preterm birth (PTB) and 11% greater risk of Low birth weight (LBW)
Summary
Preterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five years and affects more than fifteen million infants annually worldwide [1]. Low birth weight (LBW), which is defined as newborn weight under 2500 g, is linked to PTB, fetal growth restriction, or both. Some of the adverse health consequences of PTB or LBW for children include increased risk of death or various forms of neurological, respiratory, and developmental disabilities [4,5,6]. Mothers who delivered PTB or LBW babies are more likely to suffer from anxiety and decline in mother-to-infant attachment, which in turn can negatively impact the child’s development [7,8]
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