title: An exploratory study of the associations between maternal iron status in pregnancy and childhood wheeze and atopy.
abstract: Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy has been reported to be associated with childhood asthma and atopic disease. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children has reported associations between reduced umbilical cord Fe status and childhood wheeze and eczema; however, follow-up was short and lung function was not measured. In the present study, the associations between maternal Fe status during pregnancy and childhood outcomes in the first 10 years of life were investigated in a subgroup of 157 mother-child pairs from a birth cohort with complete maternal, fetal ultrasound, blood and child follow-up data. Maternal Fe intake was assessed using FFQ at 32 weeks of gestation and Hb concentrations and serum Fe status (ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and TfR-F (transferrin receptor:ferritin) index) were measured at 11 weeks of gestation and at delivery. Maternal Fe intake, Hb concentrations and serum Fe status were found to be not associated with fetal or birth measurements. Unit increases in first-trimester maternal serum TfR concentrations (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.05, 1.99) and TfR-F index (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10, 1.82) (i.e. decreasing Fe status) were found to be associated with an increased risk of wheeze, while unit increases in serum ferritin concentrations (i.e., increasing Fe status) were found to be associated with increases in standardised mean peak expiratory flow (PEF) (β 0.25, 95% CI 0.09, 0.42) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (β 0.20, 95% CI 0.08, 0.32) up to 10 years of age. Increasing maternal serum TfR-F index at delivery was found to be associated with an increased risk of atopic sensitisation (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02, 1.79). The results of the present study suggest that reduced maternal Fe status during pregnancy is adversely associated with childhood wheeze, lung function and atopic sensitisation, justifying further studies on maternal Fe status and childhood asthma and atopic disease.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK.
authors.forename: Bright I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Nwaru
authors.affiliation: Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gambling
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Leone C A
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health,Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health,Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Nanda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health,Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nutrition Group, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Maijaliisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkkola
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine,University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seaton
authors.affiliation: Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Harry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health,Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, University of Aberdeen,AberdeenAB25 2ZG,UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devereux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron