Dietary intake of seaweed and minerals and prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Japanese pregnant females: baseline data from the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

PURPOSE: It may be worthwhile to assess the possible protective effect of the traditional Japanese diet on allergic disorders. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of seaweed, vegetables, fruit, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant women. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Information on dietary factors was collected by using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. RESULTS: Seaweed intake was associated independently with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were found between calcium and phosphorus intake and allergic rhinitis prevalence. There also was a tendency for an inverse association between magnesium consumption and allergic rhinitis. Additional adjustment for calcium or magnesium intake apparently did not influence the inverse association with seaweed consumption. Consumption of vegetables, fruit, vitamins C and E, fiber, and zinc showed no association with allergic rhinitis, whereas a significant positive relationship was observed between beta-carotene intake and allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: High dietary intake of seaweed, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus may be associated with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis.     

Maternal fat intake during pregnancy and wheeze and eczema in Japanese infants: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

PurposeThis cohort study examined the relationship between maternal intake of individual fatty acids, meat, and fish during pregnancy and the risk of wheeze and eczema in children aged 23–29 months because epidemiologic evidence on this topic is inconclusive.MethodsSubjects were 1354 Japanese mother-child pairs. Data on maternal intake during pregnancy were assessed with a validated diet history questionnaire. Data on symptoms of wheeze and eczema were based on criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.ResultsSignificant inverse exposure-response relationships were observed between maternal intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and EPA plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy and infantile wheeze although the adjusted odds ratios between extreme quartiles fell just short of the significance level. No such inverse relationships were detected for infantile eczema. Maternal intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid, DHA, total n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, cholesterol, fish, and meat and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFA consumption were not significantly related to infantile wheeze or eczema.ConclusionsHigher maternal intake of EPA and EPA plus DHA during pregnancy may reduce the risk of infantile wheeze.     

Maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy and fetal growth in Japan: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is an important determinant of fetal growth. Although the effects of several nutrients and foods have been well examined, little is known about the relationship of overall maternal diet in pregnancy to fetal growth, particularly in non-Western populations. We prospectively examined the relationship of maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy to neonatal anthropometric measurements at birth and risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth among 803 Japanese women with live-born, singleton, term deliveries. Maternal diet in pregnancy was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary patterns from thirty-three predefined food groups (g/4184 kJ) were extracted by cluster analysis. The following three dietary patterns were identified: the 'meat and eggs' (n 326), 'wheat products', with a relatively high intake of bread, confectioneries and soft drinks (n 303), and 'rice, fish and vegetables' (n 174) patterns. After adjustment for potential confounders, women in the 'wheat products' pattern had infants with the significantly lowest birth weight (P = 0·045) and head circumference (P = 0·036) among those in the three dietary patterns. Compared with women in the 'rice, fish and vegetables' pattern, women in the 'wheat products' pattern had higher odds of having a SGA infant for weight (multivariate OR 5·2, 95 % CI 1·1, 24·4), but this was not the case for birth length or head circumference. These results suggest that a diet high in bread, confectioneries, and soft drinks and low in fish and vegetables during pregnancy might be associated with a small birth weight and an increased risk of having a SGA infant.     

Lack of association of mercury with risk of wheeze and eczema in Japanese children: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Mercury can have profound and complicated effects on the immune system, and epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between mercury exposure and allergic disorders has been sparse. We investigated the associations between mercury levels in maternal and children's hair and the risk of wheeze and eczema in Japanese children at 29–39 months of age. Study subjects were 582 Japanese mother–child pairs. Presence or absence of wheeze and eczema symptoms was determined based on the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Adjustment was made for maternal age; residential municipality at baseline; maternal and paternal education; maternal and paternal history of allergic disorders; maternal energy-adjusted fish intake during pregnancy; maternal smoking during pregnancy; number of child's older siblings; child's sex; household smoking in the same room as the child; breastfeeding duration; and children's fish intake at the fourth survey. The prevalence of wheeze and eczema was 18.6% and 17.2%, respectively. The range of hair mercury levels was 0.26−6.05 μg/g in mothers and 0.13−9.51 μg/g in children. Neither maternal nor children's hair mercury levels were related to the risk of wheeze or eczema. Maternal and children's hair mercury levels in the second quartile were non-significantly inversely related to the risk of wheeze (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] were 0.77 [0.41−1.44] and 0.57 [0.29−1.11], respectively) while those in the third quartile were non-significantly inversely associated with the risk of eczema (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] were 0.77 [0.40−1.45] and 0.66 [0.33−1.30], respectively). The current study provides no evidence that hair mercury levels in either mothers or children are positively associated with the risk of wheeze or eczema in children aged 29–39 months in Japan, where fish intake is high.     

Education,but not occupation or household income,is positively related to favorable dietary intake patterns in pregnant Japanese women: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Although a large body of epidemiologic data accumulated in Western countries show that individuals with a higher socioeconomic position consume higher quality diets, information on such socioeconomic differences in the diets of non-Western populations, including Japanese, is absolutely lacking. This cross-sectional study examined the association of socioeconomic position with dietary intake in a group of pregnant Japanese women. Subjects were 1002 Japanese women during pregnancy. Socioeconomic position was assessed by education, occupation, and household income. Dietary intake was estimated using a validated, self-administered, comprehensive diet history questionnaire. Education was associated positively with intake of protein; total n-3 and marine-origin n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; dietary fiber; cholesterol; potassium; calcium; magnesium; iron; vitamins A, D, E, and C; and folate 9 and inversely with that of carbohydrate. No associations were seen between education and intake of total fat; saturated, monounsaturated, and total and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids; alcohol; or sodium. Regarding food, higher education was associated with a higher intake of vegetables, fish and shellfish, and potatoes and lower intake of rice. Education was not associated with intake of bread, noodles, confectioneries and sugars, fats and oils, pulses and nuts, meat, eggs, dairy products, or fruit. For occupation, housewives had a higher intake of dietary fiber, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, folate, and pulses and nuts than working women. Household income was not associated with any nutrient or food examined. In conclusion, education, but not occupation or household income, was positively associated with favorable dietary intake patterns in a group of pregnant Japanese women.     

Dietary patterns during pregnancy and the risk of postpartum depression in Japan: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Although several nutrients and foods are suggested to be preventive against postpartum depression, all previous studies have primarily focused on single nutrients or foods. In contrast, studies on dietary patterns, namely the measurement of overall diet by considering the cumulative effects of nutrient, may provide new insights into the influence of diet on postpartum depression. We prospectively examined the association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and the risk of postpartum depression among 865 Japanese women. Diet was assessed with a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary patterns from thirty-three predefined food groups (energy-adjusted food (g/d)) were extracted by factor analysis. Postpartum depression was defined as present when the subjects had an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of ≥?9 at 2-9 months postpartum. A total of 121 women (14·0?%) were classified as having postpartum depression. Three dietary patterns were identified: 'Healthy', 'Western' and 'Japanese' patterns. After adjustment for potential confounders, neither the 'Healthy' nor the 'Japanese' pattern was related to the risk of postpartum depression. Compared with the first quartile of the 'Western' pattern, only the second quartile was independently related to a decreased risk of postpartum depression (multivariate OR 0·52, 95?% CI 0·30, 0·93), although no evident exposure-response associations were observed (P for trend?=?0·36). The present study failed to substantiate clear associations between dietary patterns and the risk of postpartum depression. Further studies with more accurate measurements are warranted to confirm the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of postpartum depression.     

Soy isoflavone intake and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

Objective

Several observational studies and trials examined the relationship between isoflavones or soybeans and depressive symptoms among peri- and postmenopausal women. We cross-sectionally evaluated the associations between intake of soy products and isoflavones and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan.

Methods

Study subjects were 1745 pregnant women. Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined by a score of 16 or over in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

Results

Higher intake of total soy products, tofu, tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, miso soup, and isoflavones was independently related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: The adjusted prevalence ratios (95 % confidence intervals, P for trend) between extreme quartiles were 0.63 (0.47–0.85, 0.002), 0.72 (0.54–0.96, 0.007), 0.74 (0.56–0.98, 0.04), 0.57 (0.42–0.76, <0.0001), 0.73 (0.55–0.98, 0.03), 0.65 (0.49–0.87, 0.003), and 0.63 (0.46–0.86, 0.002), respectively. A significant positive exposure–response relationship was found between miso intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. No material relationship was observed between soymilk intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to show independent inverse relationships between intake of total soy products, tofu, tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, miso soup, and isoflavones and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

     

Rate of eating in early life is positively associated with current and later body mass index among young Japanese children: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

The possible effect of eating rate on promoting obesity has attracted considerable attention among various age groups, but little is known about these associations in an early stage of life. We investigated the hypothesis that eating rate in early childhood influences current and later body mass index (BMI) among young Japanese children. The study participants were 492 Japanese mother-child pairs from a prospective birth cohort study. Information on rate of eating (slow, medium, or fast), macronutrient intake (protein, fat, and carbohydrate), and dietary fiber intake were collected from the mothers using a diet history questionnaire when the children were aged 29 to 39 months. Height and weight as measured at 30 and 42 months of age were used to calculate BMI at each age. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between eating rate in early childhood and BMI at 30 and 42 months. There were strong positive associations between eating rate and BMI at 30 and 42 months of age that were robust to adjustment for confounders including maternal BMI, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and child's nutrient intake. In comparison with children in the “slow” rate of eating group, the size of the difference in BMI (95% confidence interval) at 42 months of age was 0.49 (0.17-0.80) and 0.67 (0.24-1.10) kg/m² greater among children in the “medium” and “fast” groups, respectively. In conclusion, a higher rate of eating in early childhood was positively associated with not only current BMI but also BMI measured 1 year later in young Japanese children.     

Maternal caffeine intake in pregnancy is inversely related to childhood peer problems in Japan: The Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

Objectives: The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy and behavioral problems in Japanese children aged 5 years.

Methods: Subjects were 1199 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and peer problems were assessed using the Japanese parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for maternal age, gestation at baseline, region of residence at baseline, number of children at baseline, maternal and paternal education, household income, maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy, maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, child’s birth weight, child’s sex, breastfeeding duration, and smoking in the household during the first year of life.

Results: The contributors of caffeine in the diet during pregnancy were Japanese and Chinese tea (74.8%), coffee (13.0%), black tea (4.4%), confectionaries (4.0%), and soft drinks (3.7%). Higher maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy was independently associated with a reduced risk of peer problems in the children: the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy were 1 (reference), 0.61 (0.35–1.06), 0.52 (0.29–0.91), and 0.51 (0.28–0.91), respectively (P for trend?=?0.01). Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy was not evidently related to the risk of emotional problems, conduct problems, or hyperactivity problems in the children.

Conclusions: Maternal caffeine consumption, mainly from Japanese and Chinese tea, during pregnancy may be preventive against peer problems in Japanese children.     

Characteristics of under- and over-reporters of energy intake among Japanese children and adolescents: The Ryukyus Child Health Study

ObjectiveEvidence on factors associated with misreporting of energy intake in children and adolescents is sparse, particularly in non-Western countries. We examined the characteristics of under- and over-reporters of energy intake in Japanese children and adolescents.MethodsThis study included 25 761 Japanese boys and girls 6 to 15 y old. Energy intake was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire developed for Japanese children and adolescents. Estimated energy requirement was calculated from self-reported body weight with the use of equations from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations University (UNU) Expert Consultation Report on Human Energy Requirements. Under-reporters, acceptable reporters, and over-reporters of energy intake were identified based on the ratio of energy intake to estimated energy requirement (<0.76, 0.76 to 1.24, and >1.24, respectively). The risk of being an under- or over-reporter of energy intake compared with being an acceptable reporter was analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsThe percentages of under-, acceptable, and over-reporters of energy intake were 31.6%, 53.2%, and 15.2%, respectively. Under-reporting was associated with female sex, older age, overweight and obesity, low parental education, and completion of the dietary questionnaire without the cooperation of parent(s)/caregiver(s). Over-reporting was associated with younger age, normal weight, low parental education, and completion of the dietary questionnaire by the child/adolescent alone (compared with completion by the child/adolescent and parent[s]/caregiver[s]).ConclusionsAlthough under- and over-reporting of energy intake were common and differential in this study of Japanese children and adolescents, the cooperation of parent(s)/caregiver(s) in answering the dietary questionnaire seemed to improve the quality of dietary intake data.     

2008-2009年广西妇幼保健院医院感染现患率调查结果与分析

目的通过分析两次医院感染现患率调查资料,总结本医院感染现患率,为提高医院感染管理水平提供科学依据。方法对2008年11月25日、2009年11月26日两次医院感染现患率调查全部采用床旁及查阅住院病历相结合的方法。结果 2008、2009年两次感染现患率分别为1.75%、3.11%;医院感染部位以上呼吸道为主,占35.00%,其次为胃肠道和手术切口感染;抗菌药物使用率分别为76.50%、74.50%,一联用药构成比上升,二联、三联用药构成比下降;2009年侵入性操作较2008年有所增加,主要为泌尿道插管。结论继续加强抗菌药物的管理力度,加强重点科室病区的管理,加强前瞻性监测,防止医院感染的流行与暴发。     

Behind the Scenes: Publishing in the Maternal and Child Health Journal

The Editors of the Maternal and Child Health Journal offer an inside look at publishing in the journal, including advice for potential authors and reviewers.

     

世界银行—云南省妇幼卫生扶贫奖金资金的研究框架及分析方法

简要介绍了世界银行-云南省妇幼卫生扶贫资金研究的研究框架及分析方法,并初步探讨了本研究的局限性。