Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
05:31
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Gestational exposure to urban air pollution related to a decrease in cord blood vitamin d levels
Nour Baïz1, Patricia Dargent-Molina, John D Wark
1Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Unité Mixte de Recherche-S 707 Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale and Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 6, Medical School Saint-Antoine, 27 Rue Chaligny 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France. baiz@u707.jussieu.fr
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|August 21, 2012
Summary
Prenatal exposure to air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10), is linked to lower vitamin D levels in newborns. This association is strongest during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Perinatal Medicine
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease risk.
- Air pollution exposure is a potential contributor to vitamin D deficiency.
- Limited research exists on air pollution's impact on vitamin D during prenatal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gestational exposure to urban air pollutants and cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels.
- To analyze data from 375 mother-child pairs in the EDEN birth cohort.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the ADMS-Urban pollution model to estimate concentrations of PM10 and NO2 at maternal addresses during pregnancy.
- Collected and analyzed cord blood samples at birth for 25(OH)D levels.
Main Results:
- Maternal exposure to NO2 and PM10 during pregnancy significantly predicted lower vitamin D status in newborns.
- A 10-μg/m(3) increase in NO2 and PM10 was associated with a decrease in 25(OH)D levels (P=0.05 and P=0.04, respectively).
- The strongest associations were observed for exposures during the third trimester (P=0.0003 for NO2, P=0.004 for PM10).
Conclusions:
- Gestational exposure to urban air pollution, particularly in late pregnancy, may reduce offspring vitamin D levels.
- This reduction in vitamin D may influence the child's future risk of developing certain diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
01:23Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...