Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

10.3K

Early-pregnancy BMI, maternal gestational weight gain, and asthma and allergic diseases in children

Vincent Ojwang'1,2,3, Bright I Nwaru1,4,5, Takkinen Hanna-Mari1,6,7

  • 1Faculty of Social Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|September 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) in early pregnancy may increase a child's risk for atopic eczema. However, neither early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) nor GWG showed a clear link to childhood asthma or other allergic diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The relationship between early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) with childhood asthma and allergic diseases remains unclear.
  • Existing research presents inconsistent findings, necessitating further investigation into these associations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early pregnancy BMI and GWG with the incidence of asthma and allergic diseases in children up to 5 years of age.
  • To explore the potential link between maternal weight management during pregnancy and the development of allergic conditions in offspring.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from a prospective birth cohort study involving 3176 mother-child pairs.
  • Calculation of early pregnancy BMI and GWG using maternal anthropometric measurements.
  • Assessment of childhood asthma and allergic diseases (atopic eczema, atopic sensitization, allergic rhinitis) via validated questionnaires and IgE antibody analysis by age 5.
  • Application of Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models to determine associations.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between early pregnancy BMI or GWG (as continuous variables) and childhood asthma or allergic diseases.
  • However, a significantly higher odds of developing atopic eczema by age 5 was observed in children whose mothers were in the third quarter of GWG compared to the first quarter (adjusted OR 1.49, 95% CI [1.13-1.96]).

Conclusions:

  • The association between early pregnancy BMI, GWG, and childhood asthma and allergic diseases is inconsistent.
  • Elevated maternal GWG, particularly in the third trimester, may be linked to an increased risk of atopic eczema in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
BMIallergic rhinitisasthmaatopic eczemaatopic sensitizationchildrenearly pregnancygestational weight gain

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

537
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.0K

Related Concept Videos

Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
2.6K
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
371
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
2.6K
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
246
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications01:24

Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, is classified considering the frequency and severity of symptoms alongside lung function impairment. Understanding this classification is essential for appropriate treatment and management. Here's a detailed look at the classification of asthma and its clinical features and complications:
Classification of Asthma
2.5K
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
906