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Association of prenatal vitamin E levels with child asthma and wheeze
Terryl J Hartman1, Tebeb Gebretsadik2, Margaret A Adgent3,4
1Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Maternal vitamin E isomers (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) showed no significant association with childhood asthma. However, maternal asthma history may modify the effect of alpha-tocopherol on child asthma risk.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional epidemiology
- Environmental health
- Pediatric respiratory health
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to vitamin E isomers, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol, is investigated for its potential role in childhood asthma and wheeze.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for public health initiatives and early life interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the individual and interaction effects of maternal plasma alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol levels on child asthma and wheeze at age 8-9.
- To identify potential modifying factors, such as maternal asthma history, in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized data from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) prenatal cohort (n=847 dyads).
- Maternal second-trimester plasma samples were analyzed for tocopherol and lipid concentrations.
- Childhood asthma and wheeze were assessed using validated questionnaires, and multivariable logistic regression was employed to analyze associations and interactions.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant associations were found between maternal alpha-tocopherol or gamma-tocopherol levels and child asthma or wheeze.
- While not statistically significant, inverse associations were observed for alpha-tocopherol and positive associations for gamma-tocopherol with asthma outcomes.
- A significant interaction (p=0.05) indicated that maternal asthma history might modify the association between maternal alpha-tocopherol and child asthma.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal exposure to alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol was not significantly associated with childhood asthma or wheeze in this cohort.
- Maternal asthma history may play a role in modifying the relationship between maternal alpha-tocopherol levels and the risk of asthma in children.
Background:
We investigated the individual and interaction effects of maternal plasma 𝛂- and ϒ-tocopherol levels (vitamin E isomers) on child asthma and wheeze at age 8-9.
Methods:
Mother-child dyads were enrolled between 2006 and 2011 into the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) prenatal cohort. Maternal second-trimester samples were analyzed for tocopherol and lipid concentrations. We assessed child asthma/wheeze using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and other self-reported Ent wheeze. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, we assessed associations between vitamin E isomers and child asthma/wheeze outcomes (n = 847 mother-child dyads) and tested for prespecified interaction terms.
Results:
Median cholesterol-corrected tocopherol levels (interquartile range (IQR)) were 5.0 (4.3-5.7) and 0.8 (0.7-0.9) (umol/mmol) for 𝛂- and ϒ-tocopherol, respectively. Associations between 𝛂-tocopherol and asthma outcome variables were inverse but not statistically significant. In contrast, for ϒ-tocopherol, associations were in the positive direction, but also nonsignificant. Interactions analysis between tocopherols did not reach statistical significance for any outcome. Among children of women with a history of asthma, the likelihood of ever asthma in the child appears to be decreasing with increasing maternal 𝛂-tocopherol levels, whereas this trend was not observed among those without a history of asthma (p-interaction = .05).
Conclusion:
We observed no associations for prenatal 𝛂- or ϒ-tocopherol concentrations with child asthma/wheeze. We detected some evidence of effect modification by maternal asthma history in associations between 𝛂-tocopherol and child asthma.
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