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The maternal diet index in pregnancy is associated with offspring allergic diseases: the Healthy Start study
Carina Venter1,2, Michaela P Palumbo3, Deborah H Glueck3,4
1Section of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Insights
A new maternal diet index during pregnancy shows promise for preventing offspring allergies. Higher scores on the index were linked to reduced risks of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze in children.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
Background:
- Previous research indicated limited links between maternal diet during pregnancy and offspring allergies.
- A novel maternal diet index was developed to explore associations with allergy outcomes in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a maternal diet index during pregnancy.
- To assess the association between this index and various allergic diseases in offspring up to age four.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Colorado Healthy Start mother/offspring cohort.
- Developed a weighted maternal diet index based on food propensity questionnaires.
- Validated the index in a separate replication set and analyzed associations with offspring allergy diagnoses using logistic models.
Main Results:
- The index incorporated weighted intake of vegetables, yogurt, fried potatoes, rice/grains, red meats, fruit juice, and cold cereals.
- Higher vegetable and yogurt intake were linked to allergy prevention.
- Increased index score was significantly associated with reduced odds of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze in offspring.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to demonstrate associations between a maternal dietary index during pregnancy and multiple offspring allergic diseases.
- The findings suggest potential for in utero prevention of allergic diseases through maternal diet.
Background:
A systematic review showed limited associations between pregnancy diet and offspring allergy. We developed a maternal diet index during pregnancy that was associated with offspring allergy outcomes.
Methods:
Data came from Healthy Start, a Colorado pre-birth cohort of mother/offspring dyads. Food propensity questionnaires were completed during pregnancy. Offspring allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, wheeze, and food allergy diagnosis up to age four were verified from electronic medical records. Data were randomized into test and replication sets. The index included the weighted combination of variables that best predicted a combined outcome of any allergy in the test set. Index utility was verified in the replication set. Separate adjusted and unadjusted logistic models estimated associations between the index and each offspring allergy diagnosis in the full sample.
Results:
The index included weighted measures of intake of vegetables, yogurt, fried potatoes, rice/grains, red meats, pure fruit juice, and cold cereals. Vegetables and yogurt were associated with the prevention of any allergy, while other components were associated with increased disease. In adjusted models, a one-unit increase in the index was significantly associated with reduced odds of offspring allergic rhinitis (odds ratio (CI) 0.82 [0.72-0.94]), atopic dermatitis (0.77 [0.69-0.86]), asthma (0.84 [0.74-0.96]), and wheeze (0.80 [0.71-0.90]), but not food allergy (0.84 [0.66-1.08]).
Conclusions:
This is the first study that has shown associations between an index of maternal dietary intake during pregnancy and multiple offspring allergic diseases. The results give hope for prevention of allergic diseases in utero.
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