title: Effect of a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy on fetal growth and preterm delivery: results from a French Caribbean Mother-Child Cohort Study (TIMOUN).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies suggest that a Mediterranean dietary pattern during pregnancy may influence pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) during pregnancy on fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm delivery (PTD) in a French Caribbean island where the population is largely of African descent and presents dietary patterns similar to MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the TIMOUN Mother-Child Cohort Study conducted in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) between 2004 and 2007, we analysed data for 728 pregnant women who delivered liveborn singletons without any major congenital malformations. Degree of adherence to MD during pregnancy was evaluated with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire based on nine dietary criteria. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyse birth outcomes while taking potential confounders into account.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall there was no association between MD adherence during pregnancy and the risk of PTD or FGR. However, pre-pregnancy body mass index was a strong effect modifier, and MD adherence was associated with a decreased risk of PTD specifically in overweight and obese women (adjusted odds ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.6, 0.9) (P heterogeneity <0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that Caribbean diet during pregnancy may carry some benefits of MD and may contribute to reduce the risk of PTD in overweight and obese pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Team of Epidemiological Research on Environment, Reproduction and Development, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM U1085), Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guldner
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costet
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kadhel
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouget
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monfort
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thomé
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Multigner
authors.forename: Sylvaine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cordier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: French West Indies; Mediterranean diet; fetal development; preterm birth