title: Maternal supplement, micronutrient, and cured meat intake during pregnancy and risk of medulloblastoma during childhood: a children's oncology group study.
abstract: We conducted a case-control study of medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors of brain (PNET) to pursue findings related to vitamin and mineral supplements, micronutrients, and cured meat consumption during gestation. Mothers of 315 cases ages <6 years at diagnosis in 1991 to 1997 identified from the United States and Canada through the Children's Oncology Group and mothers of 315 controls selected by random-digit dialing were interviewed. In the periconception period of the index pregnancy, case mothers were less likely than control mothers to report use of multivitamins [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.7; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.4-1.0; P = 0.08] and to be in the highest quartile of iron and folate intake from food and supplements combined (adjusted OR for iron, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; P(trend) = 0.008; adjusted OR for folate, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; P(trend) = 0.007). Case and control mothers had similar intakes of cured meats, although case mothers were more likely to have the combination of high cured meat and low vitamin C intake (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.3; P = 0.08). The results of the study add to the evidence of a protective role for multivitamins, suggest a possible role for micronutrients early in pregnancy, and generally do not support an association between cured meats and medulloblastoma/PNET.
authors.affiliation: c/o Donna Correia, CureSearch, Children's Oncology Group, 440 East Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91006, USA.
authors.forename: Greta R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bunin
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Lucy B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rorke-Adams
authors.forename: Leslie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: Avital
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cnaan
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008461:Meat Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron