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Intake of antioxidants during pregnancy and the risk of allergies and asthma in the offspring

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The potential immune functions related to the damages induced by oxygen-free radicals suggest that antioxidants may have a role in the development of allergies. The objective was to investigate the association between maternal intake of antioxidants during pregnancy and the risk of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in 5-year-old children.

Subjects/Methods:

This study was on the basis of the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study, a population-based birth cohort study with 5-year follow-up. Complete information on maternal food frequency questionnaire data and ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood)-based allergic outcomes were available for 2441 children. Cox proportional regression and logistic regression were used for the analyses.

Results:

Maternal intake of any of the antioxidants was not significantly associated with the risk of asthma, rhinitis or eczema in the offspring, except for dietary intake of magnesium, which was independently associated with protection against eczema (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.62–0.97).

Conclusion:

Maternal intake of dietary magnesium during pregnancy may protect against the risk of eczema in the offspring. We did not confirm previous observations concerning other antioxidants. This may be due to the variable amount of antioxidant intake across studies and also indicative of the hypothesis that there may be a critical time window in pregnancy during which antioxidants might modify the risk of allergies in the offspring.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Finnish type 1 diabetes prediction and prevention doctors, research nurses, nutritionists and laboratory staff for their continuous collaboration through the years. We also express our gratitude to Sirpa Pohjola and Ilona Kalliomäki for their expert technical assistance. This work was supported by the following: The Academy of Finland (grants 44105, 48724, 80846, 201988, 126813, 129492); the Finnish Pediatric Research Foundation; Doctoral Programs in Public Health; the Juho Vainio Foundation; the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation; Medical Research Funds, Turku; Oulu and Tampere University Hospitals; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Novo Nordisk Foundation; the University of Tampere Foundation; and EU Biomed 2 Program (BMH4-CT98-3314).

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Correspondence to B I Nwaru.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Contributors: BIN and ME designed, analyzed and prepared the present manuscript. SMV designed and is responsible for the DIPP Nutrition and Allergy studies. SMV and MK have planned the allergy study questionnaire for 5-year olds. SA and CK-K were responsible for data acquisition and preparation, interpretation of results, and critically reviewing the manuscript. JI, RV, OS, and MK were responsible for data collection in the clinics and for pediatric expertise in this study, and review of the manuscript and revising it critically for important intellectual content. All authors have commented and approved the final version.

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Nwaru, B., Erkkola, M., Ahonen, S. et al. Intake of antioxidants during pregnancy and the risk of allergies and asthma in the offspring. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 937–943 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.67

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