Effect of Maternal Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy on Self-Reported Allergic Diseases in the First 3 Years of Life: Results from the GUSTO Study

Abstract

Background: Maternal diet during pregnancy has been suggested to be an important early-life exposure that influences immune tolerance and the development of allergic diseases in offspring. Methods: We examined the relationship between maternal dietary patterns assessed using 24-h recalls and food diaries at 26-28 weeks of pregnancy and the subsequent development of allergic outcomes in the offspring in the Growing Up in Singapore towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort. Exploratory factor analysis was used to characterize maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy. During repeated visits in the first 36 months of life, questionnaires were administered to ascertain allergic symptoms, namely, eczema, rhinitis, and wheeze. At ages 18 and 36 months, we administered skin-prick testing to inhalant and food allergens. Results: Of the 3 maternal dietary patterns that emerged, the seafood and noodles pattern was associated with a reduced risk of developing allergen sensitization at both 18 months (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.7 [0.5-0.9]) and 36 months (0.7 [0.6-0.9]) after adjustment for a family history of allergy, and ethnicity, sex, and maternal education levels. No associations between the patterns vegetables, fruit, and white rice or pasta, cheese, and processed meat were observed with any of the allergic outcomes in the first 18 and 36 months of life. Conclusion: Maternal diet during pregnancy can influence the subsequent development of allergic outcomes in offspring.

Do traditional fermented foods protect against infantile atopic dermatitis

“…In our study, no significant relationship was observed between the maternal daily intake of individual non‐yogurt FF during pregnancy and infantile AD. The relationship between the maternal daily consumption of cheese during pregnancy and infantile AD was evaluated in a Japanese and a Singaporean cohort study; however, as in our study, no statistically significant effect on AD was found.…”

“…Yogurt is the most commonly investigated fermented food for its relationship with allergic disease . Many countries include yogurt as part of a healthy diet, and some countries include yogurt in their dietary guidelines …”

EAACI position paper on diet diversity in pregnancy, infancy and childhood: Novel concepts and implications for studies in allergy and asthma

“…• Pasta, cheese and processed meat pattern (pasta, processed grains, cheese and processed meats) 73 ;…”

Ethnic differences in maternal diet in pregnancy and infant eczema

“…[16] Therefore, studies focusing on single nutrient associations can misrepresent the effects of the nutrients when consumed in the typical manner as part of foods and dishes in a typical diet. [11] An alternative approach to studying individual nutrients is to study the dietary patterns that are most common within a population [17]. In diverse populations, rather than using pre-defined diet patterns (e.g., Mediterranean), datadriven patterns can characterise "natural" diet patterns that are prominent within the entire population [17].…”