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Association between dietary intakes and pregnancy complications: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Zengle Zhao1,2, Tongmin Chang2, Xiaoyan Liu3
1Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
|March 15, 2025
Summary
Dried fruit intake may lower ectopic pregnancy risk, while fresh fruit and cheese intake impact pregnancy hypertension. Cheese intake is also linked to reduced pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes risk.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nutritional Science
- Genetic Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest diet influences pregnancy complications, but results are often confounded.
- A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted to investigate causal dietary links to pregnancy risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the causal association between specific dietary intakes and the risk of various pregnancy complications.
- To identify dietary factors that may inform primary prevention strategies for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design.
- Employed data from the IEU Open GWAS project (exposures) and FinnGen study (outcomes).
- Main analysis used the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, with sensitivity analyses for validation.
Main Results:
- Dried fruit intake showed a protective association with ectopic pregnancy (OR: 0.36).
- Fresh fruit intake was associated with increased pregnancy hypertension (OR: 2.26).
- Cheese intake was linked to reduced risk of pregnancy hypertension (OR: 0.63), pre-eclampsia (OR: 0.53), and gestational diabetes (OR: 0.48).
Conclusions:
- This MR study identified potential causal relationships between dietary habits and pregnancy complications.
- Findings suggest specific dietary modifications could aid in the primary prevention of certain pregnancy complications.
- Further observational studies are recommended to validate the underlying mechanisms.
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