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Association between the use of antibiotics during pregnancy and obesity in 5-year-old children

Chunyu Zhuang1, Xueli Liao2, Mianai Fu3

  • 1Department of Nursing, Haikou Hospital of the Maternal and Child Health, Haikou, China.

Translational Pediatrics
|July 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic use during pregnancy is linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) in 5-year-old children. This research indicates a 4% increased risk of obesity in children whose mothers used antibiotics during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic requiring urgent attention.
  • Investigating the impact of prenatal exposures on child health is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between antibiotic use during pregnancy and childhood obesity.
  • To assess the relationship between maternal antibiotic exposure and BMI in 5-year-old Chinese children.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 132 children aged 5 years was analyzed.
  • Data included maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes, smoking, delivery mode, and weight gain.
  • Linear and logistic mixed-effects regression models were employed to assess correlations.

Main Results:

  • Maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy showed a positive correlation with children's BMI (β=0.01, P=0.04).
  • Antibiotic use during pregnancy was associated with a 4% increased risk of obesity in 5-year-old children (OR=1.04, P=0.02).

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to antibiotics is positively associated with an increased risk of obesity in early childhood.
  • Findings highlight a potential link between maternal antibiotic use and long-term child metabolic health.
Abstract

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