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Maternal social disadvantage adversely affects maternal and offspring health, with limited research on placental outcomes. Therefore, we examined maternal sociodemographic factor associations with placental and birth outcomes in general (Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort) and at-risk (PEARS Study of mothers with overweight or obesity) populations of pregnant women. TwoStep cluster analysis profiled Lifeways mothers (n = 250) based on their age, parity, marital status, household income, private healthcare insurance, homeowner status, and education. Differences in placental and birth outcomes (untrimmed placental weight (PW), birthweight (BW) and BW:PW ratio) between clusters were assessed using one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests. Partial least squares regression analysed individual effects of sociodemographic factors on placental and birth outcomes in Lifeways and PEARS mothers (n = 461). Clusters were classified as "Married Homeowners" (n = 140, 56 %), "Highest Income" (n = 58, 23.2 %) and "Renters" (n = 52, 20.8 %) in the Lifeways Cohort. Renters were younger, more likely to smoke, have a means-tested medical card and more pro-inflammatory diets compared to other clusters (p < 0.01). Compared to Married Homeowners, renters' offspring had lower BW (−259.26 g, p < 0.01), shorter birth length (−1.31 cm, p < 0.01) and smaller head circumference (−0.59 cm, p = 0.02). PLS regression analyses identified nulliparity as having the greatest negative effect on PW (Lifeways and PEARS) while being a homeowner had the greatest positive effect on PW (Lifeways). Certain combinations of sociodemographic factors (particularly homeownership) were associated with less favourable lifestyle factors, and with birth, but not placental outcomes. When explored individually, parity contributed to the prediction of placental and birth outcomes in both cohorts of pregnant women. • Cluster analysis can group pregnant women based on sets of sociodemographic variables. • Renters were associated with birth outcomes and less favourable lifestyle factors. • PLS Regression explores how individual sociodemographic factors predict placental outcomes. • Nulliparity contributes strongly to predicting PW and BW. • Area-level SES indicators contribute less to predicting PW and BW in mothers living with OWOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of maternal lifestyle behaviours on placental growth have been investigated individually, but with conflicting results, and their combined effect is under-researched. Therefore, we examined associations between a composite maternal healthy lifestyle score (HLS), and its individual components, during early pregnancy with placental outcomes. Participants included Lifeways Cross-Generational Cohort mother-child pairs (n = 202). A composite HLS based on a less inflammatory diet (bottom 40% of the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII™)), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), healthy pre-pregnancy BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), never smoking, and non-/moderate alcohol intake was calculated. Quantile regression analysed HLS (and individual components) associations with measures of placental development (untrimmed placental weight (PW)) and function (birth weight:placental weight (BW:PW) ratio) at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th centiles. A more pro-inflammatory diet was positively, and smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were negatively, associated with PW at median centiles (B: 41.97 g, CI: 3.71, 80.22, p < 0.05; B: −58.51 g, CI: −116.24, −0.77, p < 0.05; B: −120.20 g, CI: −177.97, −62.43, p < 0.05 respectively). Low MVPA was inversely associated with BW:PW ratio at the 10th and 90th centiles (B: −0.36, CI: −0.132, −0.29, p < 0.01 and B: −0.45, CI: −0.728, −0.182, p < 0.01, respectively). Heavy alcohol intake was positively associated with BW:PW ratio at the 10th centile (B: 0.54, CI: 0.24, 0.85, p < 0.01). Results of sex-stratified analysis provide evidence of sexual dimorphism. Associations of certain lifestyle factors, but not the composite HLS, during early pregnancy with measures of placental development (PW) and function (BW:PW ratio) varied by quantiles and by sex. • Quantile regression can explore maternal lifestyle effects at distribution extremes. • A pro-inflammatory diet, smoking and alcohol may influence placental weight. • Alcohol and physical activity may influence BW:PW ratio at extreme centiles. • Maternal alcohol intake seems to affect BW:PW ratio in male offspring. • Maternal physical activity may affect BW:PW ratio in female offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal diet during pregnancy is a modifiable behaviour which plays an important role in maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes. Thus, knowledge of predictors of dietary quality and dietary inflammatory potential in European countries may contribute to developing maternal diet-related public health policies that target specific at-risk populations in Europe. We used harmonised data from >26,000 pregnant women enrolled in the ALSPAC, EDEN, Generation R, Lifeways, REPRO_PL, ROLO and SWS cohorts, as part of the ALPHABET consortium. Maternal dietary quality and inflammatory potential were assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII). We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis to investigate the maternal sociodemographic, health and behavioural predictors of maternal diet before and during pregnancy. DASH and E-DII scores were moderately correlated: from −0.63 (95% CI: −0.66, −0.59) to −0.48 (95% CI: −0.49, −0.47) across cohorts. Higher maternal age, education, household income, and physical activity during pregnancy were associated with a better dietary quality and a more anti-inflammatory diet. Conversely, multiparity and smoking during pregnancy were associated with a poorer dietary quality and a more proinflammatory diet. Women with obesity had a poorer pregnancy dietary quality than women with a normal body mass index range. The results will help identify population subgroups who may benefit from targeted public health strategies and interventions aimed at improving women's dietary quality during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family environment can influence offspring diet and weight status. Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state, which is associated with the dietary inflammatory index (DII®). Predictors of the DII in children (C-DII™) and its associations with childhood obesity are relatively unknown. We evaluated the intergenerational relationships between the energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores in adults, predictors of C-DII and associations with childhood weight status. The study comprises 551 children and index-child's mothers, fathers and grandparents in the Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort Study. E-DII scores were generated at baseline for expectant mothers, fathers, and grandparents, and at 5-year follow-up for the mothers and children, using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were determined at age 5 and 9 years. Associations were assessed by logistic regression and mediation analysis. Higher C-DII scores indicating a more pro-inflammatory diet among children, were associated with greater risk of childhood obesity at age 5 (OR:1.09; 95%CI:1.00–1.37; P = 0.02) and overweight/obese status at 5 and 9 years (OR:1.06; 95%CI:1.01–1.09; P = 0.01 and OR:1.12; 95%CI:1.07–1.18; P = 0.01, respectively). Maternal and paternal smoking during pregnancy (OR:1.98; 95%CI:1.19–3.03; P = 0.001 and OR:1.64; 95%CI:1.12–2.49; P = 0.006, respectively) increased likelihood of higher C-DII at age 5. Child BMI, TV watching and all meals given by the childcare provider were associated with a more pro-inflammatory diet (P < 0.05), whereas breastfeeding and family meals at home were associated with a more anti-inflammatory diet (P < 0.04). Higher maternal, but not paternal, E-DII scores during pregnancy (P < 0.001) and at 5-year follow-up (P = 0.008) were associated with more pro-inflammatory diet at age 5. Results from the mediation analysis suggest that maternal grandmothers E-DII scores may influence C-DII indirectly via the mothers E-DII scores. A more pro-inflammatory dietary score was associated with childhood overweight and obesity. Parental, familial and personal factors independently influenced the C-DII score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Asthma is the most common childhood chronic health condition. Maternal antenatal diet has been associated with offspring asthma risk, but studies investigating maternal whole diet quality and inflammatory potential with long-term offspring follow-up (>5 y) are rare. Objectives We aimed to elucidate these associations in a prospective cohort study in Ireland. Methods Early pregnancy diets were assessed using a validated FFQ from which energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores were computed. Doctor-diagnosed offspring asthma status (general practitioner or parent reports) for the first 10 y of life was collected at 3-y, 5-y, and 9-y follow-up. A total of 862 mother–child pairs with information on maternal diet and ≥1 offspring asthma data points were included. The longitudinal associations between maternal E-DII and HEI scores and offspring asthma status were assessed using generalized estimating equations. Results Cumulative offspring asthma incidence was 21% over the 10-y period. In the main models, adjusted for maternal lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, a higher E-DII score, indicating a more proinflammatory diet, was associated with higher risk of offspring asthma (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.65; per 1-SD score increment), whereas a higher HEI-2015 score, indicating better dietary quality, was associated with lower risk (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.93) (both P  < 0.01). Results persisted with further adjustment for childhood factors (e.g., breastfeeding, diet, and childcare attendance) and parental asthma history. Similar associations were observed when E-DII and HEI-2015 scores were modeled in quartiles (both P -trend < 0.05). Associations for HEI-2015 were attenuated after adjustment for E-DII, suggesting the importance of anti-inflammatory pathways. Conclusions Our results suggest that a proinflammatory and low-quality diet during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of offspring asthma. Pending confirmation from other studies, optimizing these aspects of maternal diet can be a promising strategy for reducing childhood asthma risk. This prospective observational study was registered at the ISRCTN Registry as ISRCTN16537904. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High maternal dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) may be associated with adverse offspring birth and postnatal adiposity outcomes through metabolic programming, but the evidence thus far, mainly from studies conducted in high-risk pregnant populations, has been inconclusive. No study has examined the influence of maternal insulin demand [measured by food insulinemic index (II) and insulinemic load (IL)] on offspring outcomes.Objectives: We investigated associations between maternal GI, GL, II, and IL and offspring birth outcomes and postnatal adiposity in a general pregnant population.Methods: The study was based on data from 842 mother-child pairs from the Lifeways prospective cohort study in Ireland. Through the use of standard methodology, maternal GI, GL, II, and IL were derived from dietary information obtained via a validated food-frequency questionnaire in early pregnancy (12-16 wk). Birth outcomes were abstracted from hospital records. At 5-y follow-up, children's body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured. Associations were assessed through the use of multivariable-adjusted regression analysis.Results: Mothers had a mean ± SD age of 30.3 ± 5.7 y and a mean BMI (kg/m2) of 23.9 ± 4.2. The mean ± SD for dietary glycemic and insulinemic indexes were: GI = 58.9 ± 4.4; GL = 152 ± 49; II = 57.4 ± 14.5; IL = 673 ± 267. After adjustment for confounders, no consistent associations were observed between maternal GI, GL, II, and IL and birth outcomes including birth weight, macrosomia, gestational age, and postterm births. Similarly, no association was observed with BMI and waist circumference z scores and childhood obesity (general and central) at 5-y follow-up. There was no evidence of a nonlinear relation between the studied indexes and outcomes.Conclusions: We observed no clear relation between maternal GI, GL, II, and IL and offspring birth outcomes and childhood obesity in a general pregnant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Maternal caffeine intake is associated with adverse birth outcomes, but its long-term influence on offspring adiposity outcomes is not well studied. Furthermore, few studies have investigated paternal and grandparental caffeine intake in relation to offspring outcomes. Objective To study the associations between maternal, paternal, and grandparental caffeine intake and offspring childhood adiposity. Design The core study sample consists of 558 mother-child pairs from the Lifeways Study. Caffeine intake was derived from relevant food items in a self-administered validated food frequency questionnaire in early pregnancy. Children's body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured at 5- and 9-y follow-up. Childhood overall and central obesity were defined as age- and sex-specific BMI z-score > International Obesity Task Force cut-off and WC z-score > 90th percentile, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to assess associations. Results Study mothers had a mean age of 30.8 y and a mean prepregnancy BMI (kg/m2) of 23.7. In adjusted models, maternal caffeine intake was associated with a higher offspring BMI z-score [β (95% CI): 0.13 (0.06, 0.21) for year 5 and 0.17 (0.04, 0.29) for year 9; per 100 mg/d increment in maternal caffeine intake], WC z-score [β (95% CI): 0.09 (0.01, 0.17) for year 5 and 0.19 (0.05, 0.32) for year 9], and a higher risk of offspring overall obesity [OR (95% CI): 1.32 (1.11, 1.57) for year 5 and 1.44 (1.10, 1.88) for year 9] and central obesity [1.28 (1.02, 1.60) for year 5 and 1.62 (1.12, 2.34) for year 9]. The influence was stronger for coffee caffeine than tea caffeine. No consistent associations were observed for paternal and grandparental caffeine intake. Conclusions Maternal antenatal, but not paternal or grandparental, caffeine intake is associated with higher offspring adiposity and obesity risk at age 5 and 9 y, with stronger associations observed for coffee caffeine. This prospective observational study was registered at the ISRCTN Registry as ISRCTN16537904. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Maternal caffeine intake is associated with adverse birth outcomes, but in most studies the primary caffeine source is coffee; the influence of tea caffeine remains unclear. Objective The aim of the study was to examine the association between maternal caffeine intake and birth outcomes in a population with tea as the predominant caffeine source. Design Data from 941 Irish mother-child pairs of the Lifeways Cross Generation Cohort Study were examined. Maternal dietary intakes in early pregnancy were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Caffeine intake was derived from coffee, tea, soft drinks, and cocoa-containing foods and beverages. Associations of maternal caffeine intake with continuous (birth weight, birth length, and gestational age) and binary [low birth weight (LBW) (<2500 g) and preterm birth (PB) (<37 wk gestational age)] birth outcomes were investigated using multiple linear and logistic regressions, respectively, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results Tea was the predominant caffeine source (48%), followed by coffee (39%). In the fully adjusted model, maternal caffeine intake was associated with lower birth weight [β (95% CI): -71.9 (-105.4, -38.4) g • 100 mg-1 • d-1 caffeine increment], shorter birth length [-0.30 (-0.49, -0.11) cm], smaller head circumference [-0.12 (-0.24, -0.01) cm], and shorter gestational age [-0.13 (-0.25, -0.02) wk]; higher risks for LBW [OR (95% CI): 1.47 (1.14, 1.90)] and PB [1.36 (1.07, 1.74)] were also observed (all P < 0.05). The associations were robust to the exclusion of participants with pregnancy complications and in never smokers. Similar higher risks of adverse birth outcomes were observed for the highest caffeine intake categories from coffee [ORLBW: 3.10 (1.08, 8.89); ORPB: 2.74 (1.05, 7.16)] and tea [ORLBW: 2.47 (1.02, 6.01); ORPB: 2.56 (1.14, 5.75)], compared with the lowest intake categories (all P < 0.05). Conclusions Maternal caffeine intake from both coffee and tea is associated with adverse birth outcomes. This prospective observational study was registered at ISRCTN Registry as ISRCTN16537904. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2006 the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recommended mandatory folie acid fortification of flour for the prevention of neural tube defects in addition to the existing extensive voluntary folie acid fortification culture in place there. This recommendation is now suspended until further scientific evidence surrounding safety becomes available. The safety issues include concerns about the masking of vitamin B-12 deficiency and potential cancer acceleration, both of which may be of concern for the elderly population. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the basal (fasted) concentrations of unmetabolized folie acid in the plasma of an elderly population group exposed to this liberal voluntary fortification of foodstuffs in Ireland. Design: We invited participants aged 60-86 y from the Lifeways Cross-Generation Cohort Study to participate in this project. After providing informed consent, the participants were invited to provide fasting blood samples and to complete a standard food-frequency questionnaire and a questionnaire on recent and habitual intakes of folie acid. Samples were assayed for total plasma folate, red blood cell folate, homocysteine, and unmetabolized folie acid. Results: A total of 137 subjects with a mean age of 67.4 y were studied. Unmetabolized folie acid was detected in 94.1% of the cohort with a mean concentration of 0.39 nmol/L (range: 0.07- 1.59 nmol/L), accounting for 1.3% of total plasma folate. Conclusion: These results indicate unmetabolized folie acid in plasma in most of this elderly Irish cohort, even after an overnight fast. These results should be considered carefully by those legislating in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Previous studies on blood pressure (BP) indices as a predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) have provided equivocal results and generally relied on Cox proportional hazards regression methodology, with age and sex accounting for most of the predictive capability of the model. Objective: ½ The aim of the present study was to use serially collected BP measurements to examine age-and gender-related differences in BP indices for predicting CHD. Methods: The predictive accuracy of time-dependent BP indices for CHD was investigated using a method of risk prediction based on posterior probabilities calculated from mixed-effects regression to utilize intraindividual differences in serial BP measurements according to age changes within gender groups. Data were collected prospectively from 2 community-dwelling cohort studies in the United States (Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging [BLSA]) and Europe (Vorarlberg Health Monitoring and Promotion Program [VHM&PP]). Results: The study comprised 152,633 participants (aged 30–74 years) and 610,061 BP measurements. During mean follow-up of 7.5 years, 2457 nonfatal and fatal CHD events were observed. In both study populations, pulse pressure (PP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) performed best as individual predictors of CHD in women (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCROC] was between 0.83 and 0.85 for PP, and between 0.77 and 0.81 for SBP). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) performed better for men (AUCROC = 0.67 and 0.65 for MAP and DBP, respectively, in the BLSA; AUCROC = 0.77 and 0.75 in the VHM&PP) than for women (AUCROC = 0.60 for both MAP and DBP in the BLSA; AUCROC = 0.75 and 0.52, respectively, in the VHM&PP). The degree of discrimination in both populations was overall greater but more varied for all BP indices for women (AUCROC estimates between 0.85 [PP in the VHM&PP] and 0.52 [DBP in the VHM&PP]) than for men (AUCROC estimates between 0.78 [MAP + PP in the VHM&PP] and 0.63 [PP in the BLSA]). Conclusion: Our findings indicate differences in discrimination between women and men in the accuracy of longitudinally collected BP measurements for predicting CHD, implicating the usefulness of gender-specific BP indices to assess individual CHD risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The role of serum uric acid (SUA) as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains controversial. Little is known about its predictive value for mortality from congestive heart failure (CHF) and stroke, particularly in elderly, post-menopausal women. Methods: The relation of SUA to risk of death from total CVD, CHF, stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined prospectively in a large cohort of 28613 elderly Austrian women (mean age 62.3 years), followed-up for a median of 15.2 years. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were calculated to evaluate SUA as an independent predictor for fatal CVD events. Results: SUA in the highest quartile (≥5.41 mg/dL) was significantly associated with mortality from total CVD (p <0.0001), showing a clear dose–response relationship; the adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) in comparison to the lowest SUA quartile was 1.35 (1.20–1.52). In subgroup analyses SUA was independently predictive for deaths from acute and subacute (p <0.0001) and chronic forms (p =0.035) of CHD, yielding adjusted hazard ratios for the highest versus lowest SUA quartile of 1.58 (1.19–2.10) and 1.25 (1.01–1.56), respectively. SUA was further significantly related to fatal CHF (p <0.0001) and stroke (p =0.018); the adjusted hazard ratios for the highest versus lowest SUA quartile were 1.50 (1.04–2.17) and 1.37 (1.09–1.74), respectively. Conclusions: These findings, for the first time, demonstrate that SUA is an independent predictor for all major forms of death from CVD including acute, subacute and chronic forms of CHD, CHF and stroke in elderly, post-menopausal women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]