A periconceptional energy-rich dietary pattern is associated with early fetal growth: the Generation R study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify periconceptional maternal dietary patterns associated with crown-rump length (CRL), estimated fetal weight (EFW) and birthweight. DESIGN: Population-based prospective birth cohort study. SETTING: Rotterdam, the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: For this study, 847 pregnant Dutch women were eligible. Women were included between 2001 and 2005. METHODS: Information on nutritional intake was collected by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. For extracting dietary patterns, principal component factor analysis was used. Fetal growth was assessed using ultrasound measurements. Information on birth outcomes was retrieved from medical records. Multivariate regression analyses were used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Crown-to-rump length, estimated fetal weight in second and third trimester and birthweight. RESULTS: An 'energy-rich dietary pattern' was identified, characterised by high intakes of bread, margarine and nuts. A significant association was shown between a high adherence to this dietary pattern (difference, mm: 2.15, 95% confidence interval 0.79-3.50) and CRL (linear trend analyses P = 0.015). No association was revealed between increasing adherence to this dietary pattern and EFW in second or third trimester, or birthweight. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that increasing adherence to an energy-rich dietary pattern is associated with increased CRL in the first trimester.

A maternal dietary pattern characterised by fish and seafood in association with the risk of congenital heart defects in the offspring.

OBJECTIVE: To identify maternal dietary patterns related to biomarkers of methylation and to investigate associations between these dietary patterns and the risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in the offspring. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Western part of the Netherlands, 2003-08. POPULATION: One hundred and seventy-nine mothers of children with CHD and 231 mothers of children without a congenital malformation. METHODS: Food intake was obtained by food frequency questionnaires. The reduced rank regression method was used to identify dietary patterns related to the biomarker concentrations of methylation in blood. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dietary patterns, vitamin B and homocysteine concentrations, biomarkers of methylation (S-adenosylmethionine [SAM] and S-adenosylhomocysteine [SAH]) and the risk of CHD estimated by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The one-carbon-poor dietary pattern, comprising a high intake of snacks, sugar-rich products and beverages, was associated with SAH (ß = 0.92, P < 0.001). The one-carbon-rich dietary pattern with high fish and seafood intake was associated with SAM (ß = 0.44, P < 0.001) and inversely with SAH (ß =-0.08, P < 0.001). Strong adherence to this dietary pattern resulted in higher serum (P <0.05) and red blood cell (P < 0.01) folate and a reduced risk of CHD in offspring: odds ratio, 0.3 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.6). CONCLUSIONS: The one-carbon-rich dietary pattern, characterised by the high intake of fish and seafood, is associated with a reduced risk of CHD. This finding warrants further investigation in a randomised intervention trial.

The maternal homocysteine pathway is influenced by riboflavin intake and MTHFR polymorphisms without affecting the risk of orofacial clefts in the offspring.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Riboflavin is a cofactor for the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme involved in the homocysteine pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal riboflavin intake and two MTHFR polymorphisms (677C>T; Ala222Val and 1298A>C; Glu429Ala substitutions) on the biomarkers of the homocysteine pathway, and investigate the risk of having offspring with an orofacial cleft (OFC). SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a case-control study design, dietary riboflavin intake and the MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms were evaluated in 123 OFC and 108 control mothers by using food frequency questionnaires and blood samples. Homocysteine (tHcy), folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in blood were analyzed in 70 cases and 68 controls. Linear and logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: At 14 months postpartum riboflavin intake and MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C genotypes were not significantly different between cases and controls. The 677TT genotype showed lower folate concentrations compared to C-allele carriers with a mean difference of 2.8 nmol/l in serum and 174 nmol/l in red blood cell (both P's=0.01). Every mg per day increase of dietary riboflavin intake was positively associated with increase in vitamin B12 concentration by 52.1% (P<0.01). This effect was most pronounced in MTHFR 677TT homozygotes (205.1%, P=0.03). The riboflavin-adjusted MTHFR 677TT and 1298CC genotypes showed a trend toward an increasing risk for OFC, adjusted odds ratio 1.7 (confidence interval (95% CI), 0.7-4.5) and 1.6 (95% CI, 0.7-4.2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal riboflavin intake is significantly associated with biomarkers of the homocysteine pathway, with the strongest effects in MTHFR 677TT homozygotes. The maternal risk of having OFC offspring, however, is not associated with dietary riboflavin intake.

Associations between dietary patterns and semen quality in men undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.

BACKGROUND This study investigates whether dietary patterns, substantiated by biomarkers, are associated with semen quality. METHODS In 161 men of subfertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment in a tertiary referral clinic in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, we assessed nutrient intakes and performed principal component factor analysis to identify dietary patterns. Total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, vitamin B12 and B6 were measured in blood and seminal plasma. Semen quality was assessed by sperm volume, concentration, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Linear regression models analyzed associations between dietary patterns, biomarkers and sperm parameters, adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, vitamins and varicocele. RESULTS The 'Health Conscious' dietary pattern shows high intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains. The 'Traditional Dutch' dietary pattern is characterized by high intakes of meat, potatoes and whole grains and low intakes of beverages and sweets. The 'Health Conscious' diet was inversely correlated with tHcy in blood (beta = -0.07, P = 0.02) and seminal plasma (beta = -1.34, P = 0.02) and positively with vitamin B6 in blood (beta = 0.217, P = 0.01). An inverse association was demonstrated between the 'Health Conscious' diet and DFI (beta = -2.81, P = 0.05). The 'Traditional Dutch' diet was positively correlated with red blood cell folate (beta = 0.06, P = 0.04) and sperm concentration (beta = 13.25, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The 'Health Conscious' and 'Traditional Dutch' dietary pattern seem to be associated with semen quality in men of subfertile couples.

The maternal Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a reduced risk of spina bifida in the offspring.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis whether a maternal dietary pattern is associated with the risk of spina bifida (SB) in the offspring. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Eight clinic sites in the Netherlands, 1999-2001. SAMPLE: A total of 50 mothers of children with SB and 81 control mothers. METHODS: Maternal food intakes were obtained by food frequency questionnaires at the standardised study moment of 14 months after the birth of the index child. Principal component factor analysis (PCA) and reduced rank regression (RRR) were used to identify dietary patterns. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal biomarkers were used as response measures in the RRR analysis and composed of serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate, serum vitamin B12 and total plasma homocysteine. The strength of the use of the dietary pattern in association with SB risk was estimated by odds ratios and 95% CI with the highest quartiles of the dietary pattern as reference. RESULTS: A predominantly Mediterranean dietary pattern was identified by both PCA and RRR. Those dietary patterns were highly correlated (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and characterised by joint intakes of fruit, vegetables, vegetable oil, alcohol, fish, legumes and cereals and low intakes of potatoes and sweets. We observed a significantly increased risk of SB offspring in mothers with a weak use of the Mediterranean dietary pattern, OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.2-6.1) and OR 3.5 (95% CI 1.5-7.9). The Mediterranean dietary pattern was correlated with higher levels of serum and RBC folate, serum vitamin B12 and lower plasma homocysteine. CONCLUSION: The Mediterranean dietary pattern seems to be associated with reduction in the risk of offspring being affected by SB.

[Evaluation of the level of depression and dementia in patients with primary chronic active epilepsy using the Dementia Mood Assessment Scale]. / Procena stepena depresije i demencije klinickom DMAS skalom kod bolesnika sa primarnom hronicnom aktivnom epilepsijom.

The study included 40 patients, aged 18-40 years with primary chronic active epilepsy, tested by clinical DMAS scale. We have found that the level of intelectual function damage (dementia) and mood (depression) rates depended on the long duration of epilepsy and the frequency of seizures, less on the frequency of specific EEG findings. Types of epileptic seizures and polytherapy influenced the depression and dementia rates the least in previous epilepsu treatment.