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The incidence of women entering into pregnancy with BMI indicating overweight or obesity is rising with concurrent increases in adverse complications such as gestational diabetes. Although several studies have examined the compositional changes to the microbiome across BMI classifications, there has been no investigation regarding changes in microbial function during pregnancy.A total of 105 gastrointestinal microbiome biospecimens were used in this analysis. Biospecimens were sequenced by using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 shotgun metagenomics platform.Findings indicate an enrichment in microbiota from the phylum Firmicutes across all pregravid BMI groups with a decrease in α diversity in groups with BMI indicating obesity or overweight compared with a group with BMI indicating normal weight (p = 0.02). More specifically, women with BMI indicating obesity or overweight had enrichment in Bifidobacterium bifidum and B. adolescentis. Women with BMI25 kg/mOur analysis suggests that there are differences in microbial composition and function between BMI groups. Future research should consider how these changes contribute to specific clinical outcomes during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Both the incidence of diabetes mellitus and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are high in the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. The associations between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and 100% fruit juice with prediabetes and glucose metabolism markers in the diverse Hispanic/Latino population in the United States are unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and 100% fruit juice with prediabetes and glucose metabolism markers such as fasting glucose and insulin, 2-h oral-glucose-tolerance test, HOMA-IR, HOMA index for β-cell function (HOMA-B), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among US Hispanic/Latino adults. METHODS: Using baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008–2011), beverage consumption was ascertained using two 24-h dietary recalls and a food propensity questionnaire. Diabetes/prediabetes status was defined by self-report, antihyperglycemic medication use, and American Diabetes Association laboratory criteria. Among 9965 individuals without diabetes (5194 normoglycemia, 4771 prediabetes) aged 18–74 y, the associations of beverage consumption with prediabetes and glucose metabolism markers were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, respectively, accounting for complex survey design. RESULTS: Compared with individuals who consumed 2 servings/d (>480 mL/d) had 1.3 times greater odds of having prediabetes (95% CI: 1.06, 1.61) and higher glucose metabolism markers including fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c. Consumption of artificially sweetened beverages showed an inverse association with β-cell function (HOMA-B). Intake of 100% fruit juice was not significantly associated with prediabetes nor with glucose metabolism markers. CONCLUSIONS: Among US Hispanic/Latino adults, higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with increased odds of prediabetes and higher glucose metabolism markers. Public health initiatives to decrease sugar-sweetened beverage consumption could potentially reduce the burden of diabetes among Hispanics/Latinos in the United States.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of consensus in the literature about the association between meal patterning during pregnancy and birth outcomes. This study examined whether maternal meal patterning in the week before birth was associated with an increased likelihood of imminent spontaneous labor. METHODS Data came from 607 participants in the third phase of the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Study (PIN3). Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire after birth, before hospital discharge. Questions included the typical number of meals and snacks consumed daily, during both the week before labor onset and the 24-hour period before labor onset. A self-matched, case-crossover study design examined the association between skipping one or more meals and the likelihood of spontaneous labor onset within the subsequent 24 hours. RESULTS Among women who experienced spontaneous labor, 87.0% reported routinely eating three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the week before their labor began, but only 71.2% reported eating three meals during the 24-hour period before their labor began. Compared with the week before their labor, the odds of imminent spontaneous labor were 5.43 times as high (95% CI: 3.41-8.65) within 24 hours of skipping 1 or more meals. The association between skipping 1 or more meals and the onset of spontaneous labor remained elevated for both pregnant individuals who birthed early (37

Dietary patterns (DPs) synthesize multiple related dietary components in one or more combined variables. A drawback of DPs is their limited reproducibility across subpopulations, especially adoptinga posterioriDPs, derived using standard multivariate methods [e.g., factor analysis (FA)]. Standard approaches assessing reproducibility of FA-based DPs mostly rely on correlation coefficients/agreement measures between pairs of factors and do not consider any statistical model. Multi-study factor analysis builds upon standard FA model to identify DPs shared across all subpopulations and those specific to some subpopulations. Pattern reproducibility is investigated from a different perspective: a shared DP identified within multi-study factor analysis is “reproducible” since it is common to all subpopulations. Bayesian multi-study factor analysis (BMSFA) has been developed to improve DP retention and identification, two critical issues as the number of subpopulations analyzed increases.Using baseline (2008-2011) 24-hour dietary recalls from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (n=16,415), we applied the BMSFA on 42 common nutrients to identify shared and subpopulation-specific DPs where subpopulations were defined as the cross-classification of ethnic background and study site (EBS).Overall, 4 shared DPs were identified:Plant-based foods, Processed foods, Dairy products, andSeafood. At the subpopulation level, we identified 12 EBS-specific DPs, one for each EBS category, primarily representing variants of foods from animal sources. Different nuances were expressed by subsets of fairly similar EBS-specific DPs, including anAnimal vs. vegetable source, anAnimal source only, and aPoultry vs. dairy productsoverarching DPs. Shared DPs from BMSFA were similar to their counterparts from standard FA and frequentist multi-study factor analysis; EBS-specific DPs from BMSFA were better characterized than those from frequentist multi-study factor analysis.In conclusion, the BMSFA successfully captured sources of both dietary homogeneity and heterogeneity in a large well-characterized study of US Hispanics/Latino adults by ethnic background and site.

Objective/Background: Fewer than one-third of U.S. women meet the Institute of Medicine guidelines for healthy gestational weight gain (GWG). While poor sleep quality and short sleep duration have been associated with weight gain and obesity in the general population, the relationship of sleep with pregnancy weight and body composition changes is unclear. This study aimed to examine associations of sleep duration and quality with pregnancy-related changes in body weight and fat. Participants: Pregnant women obtaining obstetric care through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Healthcare System (UNC) (n = 339 who reported any sleep data) participating in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited at ≤12 weeks gestation and followed through delivery. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measured sleep duration and quality in early and late pregnancy. Weight was measured at each pregnancy medical visit and skinfolds were measured each trimester. t-tests examined sleep changes from early to late pregnancy and regression analyses estimated associations of sleep quality and duration with GWG and gestational fat gain (GFG). Results: Sleep quality and duration declined across pregnancy. A greater proportion of women with high early pregnancy body mass index (>25) reported low sleep quality and short sleep duration. Sleep quality was not associated with GWG adequacy, whereas longer late pregnancy sleep duration was associated with greater odds of inadequate GWG. Shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality in late, but not early, pregnancy were associated with greater GFG. Conclusions: Lower sleep quality and shorter sleep duration in late pregnancy were associated with greater GFG. Experimental studies are needed to test the direction of causality between GFG and sleep attributes. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02217462.

This was a cross-sectional study associating vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and potassium intakes with markers of glucose metabolism in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). HCHS/SOL is a multicenter, prospective, population-based cohort study on Hispanics/Latinos aged 18–74 years in the US. For this analysis, we included 10,609 participants who were free of diabetes. Analysis of covariance was used to assess associations of a range of micronutrient intake on the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and 2-hour post-oral glucose tolerance test (2h-plasma glucose) separately for normoglycemic and with pre-diabetes, after controlling for important confounders. All analyses accounted for the complex sample design and sampling weights. HOMA-IR levels were significantly lower among adults with intakes in the highest quartile for vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium compared to the respective lowest quartiles, for those with normoglycemia and pre-diabetes, even after adjusting for confounders, such as diet quality (p

Background/Objectives. Reward-related eating is hypothesized to underlie risk for weight gain in obesogenic environments, but its role is unknown during pregnancy and postpartum when weight change is normative, but excess weight gain and weight retention are common. This study examined associations of self-reported reward-related eating, self-regulation, and the home food environment with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight change. Subjects/Methods. Participants in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study observational cohort were enrolled at ≤12 weeks pregnancy and followed through one-year postpartum (458 recruited; 367 retained through delivery). Participants completed four measures of reward-related eating – Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale, Power of Food Scale, Multiple Choice Procedure, and a Reinforcing Value of Food Questionnaire; two measures of self-regulation – Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Delay of Gratification Inventory; and a Home Food Inventory. Measured weight and skinfolds were obtained. Multinomial logistic and multiple linear regression analyses estimated associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and home food environment with excessive GWG, gestational fat gain, postpartum weight change, and percent of GWG retained. Results. Excessive GWG was associated with food reinforcement intensity, but not with any other measure of reward-related eating, self-regulation, or home food environment. Greater gestational fat gain was associated only with higher Multiple Choice Procedure. Postpartum weight change and percent of GWG retained were associated with greater Delay of Gratification and obesogenic home food environment, but not with any measure of reward-related eating or with impulsivity. Conclusions. Findings do not support the hypothesis that self-reported reward-related eating is associated with weight outcomes in pregnancy and postpartum but indicate a relation of Delay of Gratification with postpartum weight retention. Further research using both surveys and objective measures of reward-related eating is needed to advance our understanding of the relation of reward-related eating with weight changes during this critical period of a woman’s life.

Some food parenting practices (FPPs) are associated with obesogenic dietary intake in non-Hispanic youth, but studies in Hispanics/Latinos are limited. We examined how FPPs relate to obesogenic dietary intake using cross-sectional data from 1214 Hispanic/Latino 8–16-year-olds and their parents/caregivers in the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth). Diet was assessed with 2 24-hour dietary recalls. Obesogenic items were snack foods, sweets, and high-sugar beverages. Three FPPs (Rules and Limits, Monitoring, and Pressure to Eat) derived from the Parenting strategies for Eating and Activity Scale (PEAS) were assessed. K-means cluster analysis identified 5 groups of parents with similar FPP scores. Survey-weighted multiple logistic regression examined associations of cluster membership with diet. Parents in the controlling (high scores for all FPPs) vs. indulgent (low scores for all FPPs) cluster had a 1.75 (95% CI: 1.02, 3.03) times higher odds of having children with high obesogenic dietary intake. Among parents of 12–16-year-olds, membership in the pressuring (high Pressure to Eat, low Rules and Limits and Monitoring scores) vs. indulgent cluster was associated with a 2.96 (95% CI: 1.51, 5.80) times greater odds of high obesogenic dietary intake. All other associations were null. Future longitudinal examinations of FPPs are needed to determine temporal associations with obesogenic dietary intake in Hispanic/Latino youth.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between neonatal jaundice and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD developmental disorder (DD). STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed data from the Study to Explore Early Development, a US multisite, case-control study conducted from 2007 to 2011. Developmental assessment classified children aged 2–5 years into: ASD (n= 636), DD (n= 777), or controls (POP; n= 926). Neonatal jaundice (n= 1054) was identified from medical records and maternal interviews. We examined associations between neonatal jaundice and ASD and DD using regression models to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR). RESULTS: Our results showed interaction between gestational age and neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice was associated with ASD at 35–37 weeks (aOR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.05, 3.19), but not ≥38 weeks gestation (aOR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.76, 1.24). Similar results were observed with DD. CONCLUSIONS: Further exploration of timing and severity of neonatal jaundice and ASD/DD is warranted.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence vitamin A plays a role in neuroblastoma. Not only is 13-cis-retinoic acid used as maintenance therapy for high-risk cases, but prenatal vitamin intake use may decrease neuroblastoma risk. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vitamin A-related genes are may be associated with neuroblastoma risk and potentially be modified by vitamin A intake. METHODS: The Neuroblastoma Epidemiology in North America (NENA) study recruited 563 case-parent sets through the Children’s Oncology Group’s Childhood Cancer Research Network. We ascertained dietary nutrient intake through questionnaires and genotyped 463 SNPs in vitamin A-related genes from saliva DNA. Offspring and maternal log-additive risk ratios (RR) and stratum-specific RR for gene-environment interaction were estimated with a log-linear model. We avoided false positives due to multiple testing by using the false discovery rate (FDR). RESULTS: When all neuroblastoma cases were considered together, no offspring variants met the significance criteria (FDR Q-value

Background Suboptimal feeding behaviors during infancy, such as introducing solids prior to 4 months and providing foods containing added sugars, are associated with increased risk of later obesity. Although focus group studies suggest that infant appetitive traits during milk feeding stage may influence complementary feeding practices, quantitative evidence on this relationship is lacking. Methods This study included women who were followed from first trimester to 1-year postpartum. At 6-months postpartum, mothers (n = 217) completed the Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire which assesses infant appetitive traits during exclusive milk-feeding (food responsiveness, satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating, enjoyment of food and general appetite). Mothers reported infant dietary intake via a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered at 6, 9 and 12 months, from which age at introduction to solids and sweet foods/beverages, and 6- and 12-month sweet food/beverage intake frequency, were calculated. Linear regression analyses examined the relationship of appetitive traits with age at introduction to solids and sweet foods/beverages, and frequency of sweet food/beverage intake, whereas logistic regression examined associations of appetitive traits with odds of introduction to solids prior to 4 months. Results Greater infant enjoyment of food was associated (B±SE = 0.45 ± 0.18, p = 0.01) with higher age at introduction to solids. Slowness in eating was inversely associated with 12-month sweet food/beverage intake frequency (B±SE = −0.25 ± 0.10, p = 0.01). Other associations of appetitive traits with age at introduction to solids and sweet food/beverage exposure were not statistically significant. Conclusions Findings imply that lower infant enjoyment of food and greater speed of eating during the period of exclusive milk-feeding could be associated with suboptimal complementary feeding practices. Understanding how parents respond to infant appetitive traits may be important considerations in efforts to promote appropriate complementary feeding practices during infancy.

Background The vaginal microbiome has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but information on the impact of diet on microbiome composition is largely unexamined. Objective To estimate the association between prenatal diet and vaginal microbiota composition overall and by race. Methods We leveraged a racially diverse prenatal cohort of North Carolina women enrolled between 1995 and 2001 to conduct this analysis using cross-sectional data. Women completed food frequency questionnaires about diet in the previous 3 months and foods were categorised into subgroups: fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, whole grains, low-fat dairy, sweetened beverages and red meat. We additionally assessed dietary vitamin D, fibre and yogurt consumption. Stored vaginal swabs collected in mid-pregnancy were sequenced using 16S taxonomic profiling. Women were categorised into three groups based on predominance of species: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus miscellaneous and Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria. Adjusted Poisson models with robust variance estimators were run to assess the risk of being in a specific vagitype compared to the referent. Race-stratified models (Black/White) were also run. Results In this study of 634 women, higher consumption of dairy was associated with increased likelihood of membership in the L. crispatus group compared to the L. iners group in a dose-dependent manner (RR quartile 4 vs. 1: 2.01 [95% CI: 1.36, 2.95]). Increased intake of fruit, vitamin D, fibre and yogurt was also associated with increased likelihood of membership in L. crispatus compared to L. iners, but only among black women. Statistical heterogeneity was only detected for fibre intake. There were no detected associations between any other food groups or risk of membership in the BV group. Conclusions Higher consumption of low-fat dairy was associated with increased likelihood of membership in a beneficial vagitype, potentially driven by probiotics.

Background Depression, stress, and poor-quality sleep are common during pregnancy and postpartum, but the relationship of these factors with reward-related eating is not well understood. This observational cohort study examines associations of depression, stress, and sleep quality with self-reported reward-related eating in pregnancy and postpartum. Methods Participants were enrolled at Results During pregnancy, greater depressive symptoms (β ± SE = 0.03 ± 0.01, p p p = 0.03) were associated with greater hedonic hunger. Similarly, greater depressive symptoms (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.14, p = .01), higher stress (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.14, p = p = .04) were associated with greater odds of addictive-like eating. These associations were also significant in postpartum except that sleep quality was not associated with hedonic hunger. Greater depressive symptoms (β ± SE = 0.06 ± 0.02, p p = p p p p p = 0.01) and addictive-like eating (0.88 ± 0.33, p = 0.01), and increased stress was associated with increased hedonic hunger (1.71 ± 0.76, p = 0.02). Change in stress was not associated with change in addictive-like eating and change in sleep quality was not associated with change in either hedonic hunger or addictive-like eating. Conclusions Greater depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and poorer sleep quality are associated with greater self-reported reward-related eating during pregnancy and postpartum, suggesting that efforts to improve diet during and after pregnancy may benefit from addressing mental health and sleep. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov Registration ID – NCT02217462. Date of registration – August 13, 2014

Previous studies have investigated the associations between the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth (PTB), with the aim of determining whether differences in community patterns meaningfully alter risk, and could therefore be the target of intervention. We report on vaginal microbial analysis on a subset of the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition (PIN) Study, a prospectively enrolled cohort of women in central North Carolina between 1995-2001. We selected a nested case-control subset of this cohort, including 464 White women (375 term birth and 89 spontaneous PTB, sPTB) and 360 Black women (276 term birth and 84 sPTB). Microbial DNA was extracted from genital track swabs collected mid-pregnancy, and subjected to 16S rRNA taxonomic profiling. We found that microbial community structure is associated with race and sPTB, although the influence of race is stronger than the influence of sPTB. The microbiome of Black women has higher alpha-diversity, higher abundance of Lactobacillus iners and lower abundance of Lactobacillus crispatus. These differences were obscured once maternal douching behavior was considered—specifically, among women who douche, there were no significant differences in microbiome by race. The sPTB associated microbiome exhibited a lower abundance of L. crispatus, while alpha diversity and L. iners were not significantly different. Associations between the microbiome and sPTB were only significant in women who do not douche. While race was a strong predictor of microbial community structure, we also observed strong intercorrelations between a range of maternal factors, including poverty, education, marital status, age, douching and race, with microbiome effect sizes in the range of 1.8-5.2% in univariate models. Therefore, race may simply be a proxy for other socially driven factors that differentiate microbiome community structures. Future work will continue to refine reliable microbial biomarkers for preterm birth across diverse cohorts.

Purpose: To examine alignment between 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and dietary choices of individuals in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) between 2008 and 2011. Methods: Data are from 15,633 adults 18–74 years from the population-based cohort in HCHS/SOL. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010 was used to measure diet quality. Means and standard errors (SEs) for the HEI total and each of the 12 component scores were calculated overall and by Hispanic/Latino heritage, sex, age group, and measures of acculturation. Linear regression was used to examine correlates of the HEI 2010 total score. All analyses accounted for complex survey design. Results: The overall HEI mean of 63.8 (SE: 0.4) varied across groups from a high (healthier diet) of 71 (SE: 0.9) among Mexicans to a low of 56 (SE: 0.1) among Puerto Ricans. The proportion with a maximum score for the HEI components varied across heritage groups; >25% of adults adhered to recommendations for total proteins, and seafood and plant proteins, whole fruits, and greens and beans, with the exception of Cubans and Puerto Ricans, who had lower adherence scores for the latter two. The components with the lowest adherence were sodium (

Previous studies have shown complications of pregnancy, often examined in aggregate, to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results for specific complications, such as maternal diabetes and hypertension, have not been uniformly consistent and should be investigated independently in relation to ASD in a large community-based sample. The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a US multisite case-control study, enrolled children born in 2003-2006 at 2-5 years of age. Children were classified into three groups based on confirmation of ASD (n = 698), non-ASD developmental delay (DD; n = 887), or controls drawn from the general population (POP; n = 979). Diagnoses of any diabetes or hypertensive disorder during pregnancy were identified from prenatal medical records and maternal self-report. Logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking during pregnancy, and study site. Models for hypertension were additionally adjusted for parity and plurality. Among 2,564 mothers, we identified 246 (9.6%) with any diabetes and 386 (15.1%) with any hypertension in pregnancy. After adjustment for covariates, any diabetes during pregnancy was not associated with ASD (aOR = 1.10 [95% CI 0.77, 1.56]), but any hypertension was associated with ASD (aOR = 1.69 [95% CI 1.26, 2.26]). Results were similar for DD, and any diabetes (aOR = 1.29 [95% CI 0.94, 1.78]) or any hypertension (aOR = 1.71 [95% CI 1.30, 2.25]). Some pregnancy complications, such as hypertension, may play a role in autism etiology and can possibly serve as a prompt for more vigilant ASD screening efforts. Autism Res 2019, 12: 967-975. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: We studied if common complications in pregnancy are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large sample of mothers and children. Our results show an association between conditions marked by high blood pressure and ASD, but no association with conditions marked by high blood sugar and ASD. Associations were similar for children who had a developmental disorder that was not ASD, suggesting that this relationship may not be specific to ASD.

Background Acculturation among Hispanic/Latinos has been linked to deteriorating dietary quality that may contribute to obesity risks. This study examined the relationship between acculturation, ethnic identity, and dietary quality in U.S. Hispanic/Latino youth. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1298 Hispanic/Latino youth ages 8–16 from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (HCHS/SOL Youth), an ancillary study of offspring of participants in the adult HCHS/SOL cohort. Multivariable regression analyses assessed relationships between acculturation and ethnic identity with dietary quality as measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, accounting for covariates, design effects, and sample weights. We also compared HEI scores by immigrant generation and language of interview. Results Youth were 12 ± 2.5 -years and 49.3% female. They were placed into five acculturation categories—including 48% integrated (bicultural orientation), 32.7% assimilated (high U.S. and low Latino orientation), 5.9% separated (high Latino and low U.S. orientation) or marginalized (neither U.S. nor Latino orientation), and 13.3% unclassified. Mean HEI was 53.8; there were no differences in HEI scores by acculturation category, but integrated youth had higher whole grains scores, lower sodium scores, and lower empty calories scores compared to assimilated youth. There were no differences in HEI scores by ethnic identity scores, and no consistent trend between dietary quality and ethnic identity. First- and second-generation youth had higher HEI scores, compared to third-generation youth, and, Spanish-speaking youth had higher HEI scores compared to English-speaking youth. Conclusion Results suggest that integrated youth in the U.S. may engage in healthier eating behaviors than those who are assimilated. Additional research on Hispanic/Latino youths' acculturation and diet can inform health promotion efforts to improve eating habits and health outcomes among this population.

Summary Background & aims Diet quality may influence non-traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors – namely, C-reactive protein (CRP) and the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Pre-existing traditional cardiometabolic conditions may confound this association. We aimed to determine whether diet quality was associated with high-risk CRP or ABI, independently from traditional cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods Baseline data were analyzed from US-Hispanics/Latinos aged 18–74 y without previously-diagnosed CVD participating in the population-based Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos cohort. Included were 14,623 participants with CRP data, and 7892 participants (≥45 y) with ABI data. Diet quality was measured with the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). Results Nearly 35% of Hispanics/Latinos had high-risk CRP concentration and 6.3% had high-risk ABI (peripheral artery disease (PAD): 4.2%; arterial stiffness: 2.1%). After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity, the odds (95% confidence interval) of having high-risk ABI were 37% (5, 44%) lower per 10-unit increase in AHEI ( p = 0.018). The association was marginally significant for PAD (0.77 (0.58, 1.00); p = 0.05), and non-significant for arterial stiffness ( p = 0.16). Each 10-unit increase in AHEI was associated with 21% (10, 30%) lower odds of high-risk CRP ( p = 0.0002) after similar adjustments. There were no significant interactions between AHEI and age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, or pre-existing cardiometabolic conditions for associations with ABI. The association between AHEI and high-risk CRP was stronger for those with diabetes ( p -interaction p -interaction = 0.005), or ages 45–74 y ( p -interaction = 0.011). Conclusions Higher diet quality is associated with lower inflammation and less adverse ABI among Hispanics/Latinos, independently from traditional cardiometabolic risk factors.

Background: Maximizing data completion and study retention is essential in population research. There is scant research to inform how remuneration schedules and data collection modality influence participant data completion and retention. Purpose: We examined the effect of remuneration schedule and data collection modality on data completion and retention in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study (PEAS) cohort. Methods: Participants (n=458) completed self-administered surveys and diet recalls online and attended six study visits. Initially, remuneration was a prespecified amount per visit (lump sum). The remuneration schedule was changed mid-study to be based on the number of forms completed (pro-rated). Survey data collection modality was changed to in-person at the 1-year postpartum visit. Remuneration schedule as a predictor of withdrawal by visit was modeled using Poisson regression; differences in retention at 1-year postpartum were examined by t-test. Differences in survey and diet record completion were determined by t-test, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression. Results: There was no significant difference in the time to withdrawal and no interaction of visit with remuneration schedule on withdrawal. Survey and diet recall completion were significantly lower under prorated remuneration at the first visit but did not significantly differ at subsequent visits. Survey completion at 1-year postpartum was significantly higher for in-person versus online completion. Conclusions: Findings suggest that remuneration schedule and data collection modality can impact completion of self-reported assessments. Further research is needed to understand how remuneration and data collection practices intersect with diverse populations to influence data completion and retention.

Individuals of South Asian ethnicity have an increased risk for obesity and related diseases. Foods available in the home during the first 1000 days (conception to 24 months old) are an important determinant of diet, yet no study has examined the association of early‐life home food availability (HFA) with later diet and obesity risk in South Asian households. We examined whether obesogenic HFA at 18 months of age is associated with dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) at 36 months of age in low‐income Pakistani and White households in the United Kingdom. In this prospective birth cohort study (Born in Bradford 1000), follow‐up assessments occurred at 18 (n = 1032) and 36 (n = 986) months of age. Variety and quantity of snack foods and sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the home and consumed were measured using the HFA Inventory Checklist and food frequency questionnaires, respectively. BMI was calculated using measured length/height and weight. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between HFA and tertiles of dietary intake, and multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between HFA and BMI. Pakistani households had a greater variety and quantity of snack foods and SSBs available compared with White households. Variety and quantity of snack foods and SSBs in the home at 18 months were positively associated with children's intake of these items at 36 months, but associations between HFA and BMI were null. Reducing obesogenic HFA during the first 1000 days may promote the development of more healthful diets, though this may not be associated with lower obesity risk during toddlerhood.

Background Neurobehavioral factors, including reward-related eating and self-regulation, in conjunction with the food environment, may influence dietary behaviors. However, these constructs have not been examined in pregnancy and postpartum, a time of changing appetite and eating behaviors, and when dietary intake has implications for maternal and child health. This study examined associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and the home food environment with pregnancy and postpartum diet quality. Methods Participants in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study observational cohort were enrolled at ≤12 weeks gestation and followed through one-year postpartum. Pregnancy and postpartum Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-total), and adequacy and moderation scores, respectively, were calculated by pooling 24-h diet recalls administered each trimester and during 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Participants completed four measures of reward-related eating – Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS), Power of Food Scale (PFS), Multiple Choice Procedure (MCP), and Reinforcing Value of Food Questionnaire (RVFQ); two measures of self-regulation – Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and Delay of Gratification Inventory (DGI); and a Home Food Inventory (HFI), yielding obesogenic (OBES) and fruit/vegetables (FV) scores. Linear regression analyses estimated associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and home food environment with diet quality during pregnancy and postpartum, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Pregnancy HEI-total was inversely associated with PFS (β = − 0.14 ± 0.05, p = 0.009), mYFAS(β = − 0.14 ± 0.06, p = 0.02), 2 of the 5 RVFQ indices, MCP (β = − 0.14 ± 0.05, p = 0.01), and DGI food subscale (β = 0.23 ± 0.05, p p = 0.004 and β = − 0.19 ± 0.07, p = 0.006, respectively), and positively with HFI-FV (β = 0.21 ± 0.05, p p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions Associations of poorer diet quality with greater reward-related eating during pregnancy but not postpartum suggests the need to better understand differences in the determinants of eating behaviors and approaches to circumvent or moderate reward-related eating to facilitate more optimal diet quality across this critical period. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov. URL – Registration ID – NCT02217462. Date of registration – August 13, 2014.

Background. Neurobehavioral factors, including reward-related eating and self-regulation, in conjunction with the food environment, may influence dietary behaviors. However, these constructs have not been examined in pregnancy and postpartum, a time of changing appetite and eating behaviors, and when dietary intake has implications for maternal and child health. This study examined associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and the home food environment with pregnancy and postpartum diet quality.Methods. Participants in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study observational cohort were enrolled at ≤12 weeks gestation and followed through one-year postpartum. Pregnancy and postpartum Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-total), and adequacy and moderation scores, respectively, were calculated by pooling 24-hour diet recalls administered each trimester and during 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Participants completed four measures of reward-related eating – Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS), Power of Food Scale (PFS), Multiple Choice Procedure (MCP), and Reinforcing Value of Food Questionnaire (RVFQ); two measures of self-regulation – Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and Delay of Gratification Inventory (DGI); and a Home Food Inventory (HFI), yielding obesogenic (OBES) and fruit/vegetables (FV) scores. Linear regression analyses estimated associations of reward-related eating, self-regulation, and home food environment with diet quality during pregnancy and postpartum, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.Results. Pregnancy HEI-total was inversely associated with PFS (β=-0.14± 0.05, p=0.009), mYFAS(β=-0.14± 0.06, p=0.02), 2 of the 5 RVFQ indices, MCP (β=-0.14± 0.05, p=0.01), and DGI food subscale (β=0.23± 0.05, pConclusions. Associations of poorer diet quality with greater reward-related eating during pregnancy but not postpartum suggests the need to better understand differences in the determinants of eating behaviors and approaches to circumvent or moderate reward-related eating to facilitate more optimal diet quality across this critical period.Trial Registration. Clinicaltrials.govURL – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02217462Registration ID – NCT02217462Date of registration – August 13, 2014

BackgroundDiet quality may be an important area of focus for promoting cognitive health; however, the association between diet quality and cognitive function among Hispanics/Latinos remains largely unexamined. We hypothesized that a healthier diet quality will be associated with better cognitive function in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine associations between the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010), a measure of diet quality, and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.MethodsData from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Visit 1 (2008-2011) were used (n=8461; ages 45-74 y). Cognitive function was assessed with tests of verbal learning and memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed; a global cognition score was derived by summing the z scores of individual tests. Dietary intake was assessed via two 24-h recalls. Total AHEI-2010 score was categorized into quintiles (higher quintiles indicating healthier diet). Linear regression models were used to examine associations between AHEI-2010 quintiles and cognitive function adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, daily energy intake, type 2 diabetes, smoking, and depressive symptoms.ResultsCompared with the lowest quintile, in the second to fourth AHEI-2010 quintiles, global cognition scores were significantly higher by 0.28, 0.52, and 0.48 units (P-trend=0.042). In the second to fifth AHEI-2010 quintiles, verbal learning scores were significantly higher by 0.60, 0.62, 0.92, and 0.88 units, and verbal memory scores were higher by 0.33, 0.40, 0.52, and 0.46 units (P-trend=0.020 and 0.007, respectively). No associations were observed between the AHEI-2010 and verbal fluency or processing speed (P-trend=0.49 and 0.84, respectively). Among AHEI-2010 components, adequate consumption of vegetables, alcohol, and whole fruits were each associated with better cognitive function.ConclusionsAn overall healthier diet quality was associated with better global cognition, verbal learning, and verbal memory in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines relationships of maternal prenatal and postnatal diet quality with infant birth size and growth, which are known risk factors for child obesity. METHODS: Women completed six 24-hour diet recalls (1 per pregnancy trimester and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum); infant anthropometrics were obtained at birth (n = 331 mother-child dyads), 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months of age. Prenatal and postnatal Healthy Eating Index 2015 total (HEI), adequacy (HEI-adq) and moderation (HEI-mod) scores were calculated by combining recalls across pregnancy and across postpartum. Linear mixed models estimated associations of infant weight-for-length z-scores (WFLz) with prenatal and postnatal diet quality. Logistic regressions estimated odds of small-for-gestational age (SGA, 90th percentile) associated with maternal prenatal diet quality. Covariates included maternal height, demographics, delivery mode, child sex, and gestational age at delivery. Sensitivity analyses examined whether associations were robust to inclusion of maternal total energy intake or early pregnancy BMI. RESULTS: WFLz was inversely associated with prenatal HEI (β±SE = −0.02 ± 0.005, P = 0.004) and HEI-mod (β ± SE = −0.04 ± 0.01, P

BACKGROUND: Latent class models (LCMs) have been used in exploring dietary behaviors over a wide set of foods and beverages in a given population, but are prone to overgeneralize these habits in the presence of variation by subpopulations. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to highlight unique dietary consumption differences by both study site and ethnic background of Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, that otherwise might be missed in a traditional LCM of the overall population. This was achieved using a new model-based clustering method, referred to as robust profile clustering (RPC). METHODS: A total of 11,320 individuals aged 18–74 y from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008–2011) with complete diet data were classified into 9 subpopulations, defined by study site (Bronx, Chicago, Miami, San Diego) and ethnic background. At baseline, dietary intake was ascertained using a food propensity questionnaire. Dietary patterns were derived from 132 food groups using the RPC method to identify patterns of the general Hispanic/Latino population and those specific to an identified subpopulation. Dietary patterns derived from the RPC were compared to those identified from an LCM. RESULTS: The LCM identified 48 shared consumption behaviors of foods and beverages across the entire cohort, whereas significant consumption differences in subpopulations were identified in the RPC model for these same foods. Several foods were common within study site (e.g., chicken, orange juice, milk), ethnic background (e.g., papayas, plantain, coffee), or both (e.g., rice, tomatoes, seafood). Post hoc testing revealed an improved model fit in the RPC model [Deviance Information Criterion DIC(RPC) = 2.3 × 10(4), DIC(LCM) = 9.5 × 10(6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary pattern behaviors of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States tend to align by ethnic background for some foods and by location for other foods. Consideration of both factors is imperative to better understand their contributions to population health and developing targeted nutrition intervention studies.

In epidemiology, it is often of interest to assess how individuals with different trajectories over time in an environmental exposure or biomarker differ with respect to a continuous response. For ease in interpretation and presentation of results, epidemiologists typically categorize predictors prior to analysis. To extend this approach to time-varying predictors, one can cluster individuals by their predictor trajectory, with the cluster index included as a predictor in a regression model for the response. This article develops a semiparametric Bayes approach, which avoids assuming a pre-specified number of clusters and allows the response to vary nonparametrically over predictor clusters. This methodology is motivated by interest in relating trajectories in weight gain during pregnancy to the distribution of birth weight adjusted for gestational age at delivery. In this setting, the proposed approach allows the tails of the birth weight density to vary flexibly over weight gain clusters.

Background The nutritional status of women in the preconception period is of paramount importance due to its role in reproduction. Objective Our aim was to assess overall diet quality during the preconception period and its association with infant birth weight adjusted for gestational age (GA). Design This is an observational longitudinal cohort of Hispanic people living in the United States. Participants/setting Data are from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos baseline (2008-2011) and second clinic examinations (2014-2017). Included are the first 497 singleton live-born infants among the 2,556 women (younger than 45 years) who attended the second visit. Field sites were located in Miami, FL; Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; and San Diego, CA, and represent individuals with heritage from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Central and South America. Main exposure Diet assessment included two 24-hour recalls from baseline. The 2010 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) was used to measure diet quality, with higher scores indicating better quality. Statistical analyses performed Complex survey linear regression estimated the association between HEI-2010 scores (continuous variable and categorized into tertiles) and birth-weight z score and birth weight for GA percentile. Results Mean (standard deviation) age of women was 25.8 (5.2) years and 36.4% were classified as underweight or normal weight, 30.0% were overweight, and 33.6% had obesity at baseline. Mean (standard deviation) HEI-2010 score was 56.5 (13.4), and by weight classifications was 54.4 (14.1) for underweight or normal weight and 57.7 (12.8) for overweight or obesity. Median (interquartile range) birth-weight z score was 0.5 (interquartile range [IQR], –0.2 to 1.3) overall and 0.2 (IQR, –0.5 to 1.0), 0.6 (IQR, –0.2 to 1.3), and 0.5 (IQR, –0.2 to 1.4) for the first, second, and third HEI-2010 tertile, respectively. Median birth weight for GA percentile was 68.2 (IQR, 40.2 to 89.7) overall, and 56.8 (IQR, 29.6 to 85.0), 71.5 (IQR, 42.8 to 90.0), and 70.1 (IQR, 42.9 to 91.2) by HEI-2010 tertile. In adjusted models, the highest tertile of the HEI-2010 score was associated with a higher birth-weight z score and birth weight for GA percentile, and the continuous HEI-2010 score was only associated with birth weight for GA percentile. Preconception body mass index (calculated as kg/m2) did not modify these associations. Conclusions Overall diet quality, as measured by the HEI-2010, in the preconception period is associated with infant birth weight adjusted for GA among US Hispanic and Latina women.

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in the course of pregnancy and in the health of the mother and child at birth and beyond. While evidence in support of following specific dietary patterns during pregnancy for an optimal outcome is weak, due to the many methodological limitations of previous studies, there are other guidelines that women should follow. These guidelines include, the healthy dietary patterns included in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and other global guidelines. Key characteristics of these patterns include higher intakes of fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, and vegetable oils. Additionally, maternal weight status, in particular a high BMI (≥30) prior to conception itself, is strongly associated with many adverse birth outcomes. Current gestational weight gain guidelines are dependent on a woman's starting weight, and intervention studies that have been successful in helping women gain within the target require frequent, high intensity diet counseling. Intervention studies conducted in overweight and obese women show greater heterogeneity in success, but it seems prudent to provide counseling to these women even through the inter-conceptional period to help mitigate pregnancy complications and child outcomes associated with a high BMI in future pregnancies.

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in the course of pregnancy and in the health of the mother and child at birth and beyond. While evidence in support of following specific dietary patterns during pregnancy for an optimal outcome is weak, due to the many methodological limitations of previous studies, there are other guidelines that women should follow. These guidelines include, the healthy dietary patterns included in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and other global guidelines. Key characteristics of these patterns include higher intakes of fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, and vegetable oils. Additionally, maternal weight status, in particular a high BMI (≥30) prior to conception itself, is strongly associated with many adverse birth outcomes. Current gestational weight gain guidelines are dependent on a woman's starting weight, and intervention studies that have been successful in helping women gain within the target require frequent, high intensity diet counseling. Intervention studies conducted in overweight and obese women show greater heterogeneity in success, but it seems prudent to provide counseling to these women even through the inter-conceptional period to help mitigate pregnancy complications and child outcomes associated with a high BMI in future pregnancies.

Objective: To examine associations of sleep duration and quality with pregnancy-related changes in body weight and fat.Methods: Pregnant women (N = 458) obtaining obstetric care through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Healthcare System were recruited at ≤12 weeks gestation and followed through delivery. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index measured sleep duration and quality in early and late pregnancy. Weight was measured at each pregnancy medical visit and skinfolds were measured each trimester. T-tests examined sleep changes from early to late pregnancy, and regression analyses estimated associations of sleep quality and duration with gestational weight gain (GWG) and fat gain (GFG).Results: Sleep quality and duration declined across pregnancy. A greater proportion of women with high early pregnancy BMI (>25) reported low sleep quality and short sleep duration. GWG adequacy was not associated with sleep quality or duration while greater GFG was associated with poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration in late pregnancy, but not early pregnancy. Conclusions: Greater GFG was associated with poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration in late pregnancy. Experimental studies are needed to test the direction of causality between GFG and sleep attributes.

BACKGROUND The eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) experimental paradigm measures intake of highly palatable, highly processed foods when sated. However, no studies have examined EAH in pregnant women. OBJECTIVE The objectives were to investigate whether EAH in pregnant women differs by level of food processing and to examine relationships of EAH with hedonic hunger, addictive-like eating, and impulsivity. DESIGN EAH was assessed in a counterbalanced crossover feeding substudy in which participants completed two free-access eating occasions following a standardized meal during their second pregnancy trimester. Hedonic hunger (Power of Food Scale), addictive-like eating (modified Yale Food Addiction Scale), and impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-15) were assessed by self-report during early pregnancy. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Data were collected from March 2015 through September 2016 from a subsample of participants (n = 46) enrolled at ≤12 weeks gestation in an observational, prospective cohort study (the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study) in North Carolina. INTERVENTION Participants were presented with highly processed and minimally processed foods in two separate assessments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Energy intake (EAH-kcal) and percent consumed (EAH-%) (calculated as 100 × [amount consumed (g) / amount served (g)]) was measured overall and separately for sweet and savory foods. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Linear mixed models estimated the effect of condition on EAH. Hedonic hunger, addictive-like eating, impulsivity and their interaction were examined separately. RESULTS EAH-% was similar across conditions (16.3% ± 1.1% highly processed vs 17.9% ± 1.2% minimally processed; P = 0.76), resulting in 338.5 ± 34.2 kcal greater energy intake in the highly processed vs minimally processed condition (P < 0.001). Hedonic hunger was not significantly associated with EAH; reward-related eating was positively associated with EAH-kcal and EAH-% of savory foods, and Barratt Impulsivity was positively associated with EAH-kcal and EAH-% overall, and with EAH-% of sweet foods (P < 0.05). There was little evidence of an interaction of Barratt Impulsivity with hedonic hunger or reward-related eating. CONCLUSIONS EAH in pregnant women occurs for both highly processed and minimally processed foods and correlates positively with self-reported addictive-like eating, but not hedonic hunger. Impulsivity did not modify associations of addictive-like eating with EAH in this sample.

OBJECTIVE To identify trends in birth outcomes that may be associated with legalization of recreational marijuana which occurred in 2013 using vital records from Colorado and Washington states for the period of 2008-2016. METHODS Data were from birth certificates of live births (between 22 and 44 weeks gestation) of which there were 576,369 singleton births included for Colorado and 771,547 for Washington State. Outcomes included preterm birth defined as

The postpartum period can impact diet quality and subsequently place women at greater risk for overweight or obesity. This study examined consumption of key food groups during the first 2 years postpartum among low income, non-Hispanic black, first-time mothers. Data were from the Infant Care, Feeding and Risk of Obesity Study, a cohort of 217 mother–infant dyads, followed from 3 to 18 months postpartum, collected from 2003–2007. At each study visit (3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months) 24-hour dietary recalls were collected. Consumption levels were compared to those recommended from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) for each of the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, whole grains, protein foods and dairy, as well as an estimated upper limit for sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. At each time point, mothers met recommended intake levels for grains and protein foods only. In random-intercept logistic regression models, no demographic or household characteristics were associated with a likelihood of consuming recommended levels for any of the food groups according to the DGAs. Given the low intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein foods and high intake of SSBs and refined grains, interventions targeting women’s diet during the postpartum period are warranted.