Low maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy is associated with asthma in 5-year-old children.
BACKGROUND
We have previously reported an association between reduced maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy and wheezing in 2-yr-old children.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy is associated with asthma-related outcomes in children aged 5 yr.


METHODS
A longitudinal cohort study of 1,861 children born to women recruited during pregnancy and followed up at 5 yr.


METHODS
Maternal nutrient status was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire and plasma levels. Respiratory and food frequency questionnaires were completed at 5 yr and children were invited for measurement of spirometry and skin-prick testing.


RESULTS
Symptom and food frequency questionnaire data were available for 1,253 and 1,120 children, respectively; 700 children were skin prick tested, and FEV(1) was measured in 478 and exhaled nitric oxide in 167 children. In 5-yr-old children, maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with wheeze in previous year (odds ratio per intake quintile, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.95), asthma ever (0.84, 0.72-0.98), asthma and wheeze in previous year (0.79, 0.65-0.95), and persistent wheezing (0.77, 0.63-0.93). Maternal plasma alpha-tocopherol during pregnancy was positively associated with post-bronchodilator FEV(1) at 5 yr, with a 7-ml (95% confidence interval, 0-14; p = 0.04) increase in FEV(1) per microg/ml alpha-tocopherol. Maternal zinc intake during pregnancy was negatively associated with asthma ever (0.83, 0.71-0.78) and active asthma (0.72, 0.59-0.89). There were no associations between children's nutrient intake and respiratory outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal intake of foods containing vitamin E and zinc during pregnancy is associated with differences in the risks of developing childhood wheeze and asthma.
Devereux
Graham
G
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZB, UK. g.devereux@abdn.ac.uk
Turner
Stephen W
SW
Craig
Leone C A
LC
McNeill
Geraldine
G
Martindale
Sheelagh
S
Harbour
Paul J
PJ
Helms
Peter J
PJ
Seaton
Anthony
A
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D014131:Trace Elements; D014810:Vitamin E; D015032:Zinc