title: Fermented Food Consumption and Psychological Distress in Pregnant Women: A Nationwide Birth Cohort Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.
abstract: Health benefits of fermented foods are attracting attention worldwide, and they have been traditionally eaten in Japan. Moreover, a recent study showed the association between the higher intake of yogurt and lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, during pregnancy are serious health concerns and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in children. In this study, we explored the association between fermented food consumption and psychological distress in 10,129 pregnant Japanese women, using the fixed data of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), an ongoing nation-wide birth cohort study. Food consumption was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale (K6) was administered to eligible women during their second or third trimester to eliminate overlap with the period of hyperemesis gravidarum. The mean median gestation in the subjects was 24.8 weeks. In total, 9,030 subjects completed the K6 questionnaire and FFQ. Importantly, the prevalence of the K6 score of ≥ 13 was 3.1% (280 subjects). This value was lower compared to precedent studies, which may reflect that cooperative and health conscious subject participated in the survey. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates that the intake of yogurt, lactic acid beverages, cheese, Japanese pickles, miso soup, or fermented soybeans was not significantly associated with a K6 score of ≥ 13. In conclusion, the present cohort study shows no association between fermented food consumption and psychological distress symptoms during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research Network, Clinical Research, Innovation and Education Center, Tohoku University Hospital.
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishigori
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishigori
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metoki
authors.forename: Kasumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikuro
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tatsuta
authors.forename: Ichiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.forename: Ikuma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaegashi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015014:Yogurt