The relationship between maternal physical activity during pregnancy and birth weight

INTRODUCTION: Earlier studies in India have demonstrated an inverse relationship between physical activity and birth weight in rural women who had high levels of physical activity related to agricultural and domestic activities. There are no data on urban Indian women from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds with varying levels of physical activity. This study assessed the role of different domains of physical activity during pregnancy and its relation to birth weight. METHODS: Data on maternal anthropometry and maternal physical activity level were collected at the 1st trimester (baseline), the 2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Birth weight for 546 live born babies was measured immediately after delivery. RESULTS: The time spent in sedentary activities (median "cut-off" of 165 min/d) was significantly associated with maternal body weight in the first trimester of pregnancy (51.2 kg vs. 54.1 kg, p < 0.001). Women in the highest tertile of physical activity level in the 1st trimester were 1.58 times (95% CI: 1.02-2.44) more likely of having a baby in the lowest tertile of birth weight with reference to the first tertile. This significant association continued after adjustment for maternal weight and energy intake. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that physical activity in the first trimester is associated with low birth weight in Indian babies.     

Associations between Maternal Dietary Patterns and Infant Birth Weight in the NISAMI Cohort: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

The mother’s diet during pregnancy is associated with maternal and child health. However, there are few studies with moderation analysis on maternal dietary patterns and infant birth weight. We aim to analyse the association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and birth weight. A prospective cohort study was performed with pregnant women registered with the prenatal service (Bahia, Brazil). A food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate dietary intake. Birth weight was measured by a prenatal service team. Statistical analyses were performed using factor analysis with a principal component extraction technique and structural equation modelling. The mean age of the pregnant women was 27 years old (SD: 5.5) and the mean birth weight was 3341.18 g. It was observed that alcohol consumption (p = 0.05) and weight-gain during pregnancy (p = 0.05) were associated with birth weight. Four patterns of dietary consumption were identified for each trimester of the pregnancy evaluated. Adherence to the “Meat, Eggs, Fried Snacks and Processed foods” dietary pattern (pattern 1) and the “Sugars and Sweets” dietary pattern (pattern 4) in the third trimester directly reduced birth weight, by 98.42 g (Confidence interval (CI) 95%: 24.26, 172.59) and 92.03 g (CI 95%: 39.88, 165.30), respectively. It was also observed that insufficient dietary consumption in the third trimester increases maternal complications during pregnancy, indirectly reducing birth weight by 145 g (CI 95%: −21.39, −211.45). Inadequate dietary intake in the third trimester appears to have negative results on birth weight, directly and indirectly, but more studies are needed to clarify these causal paths, especially investigations of the influence of the maternal dietary pattern on the infant gut microbiota and the impacts on perinatal outcomes.     

Maternal protein intake is not associated with infant blood pressure

BACKGROUND: Animal data show that low protein intake in pregnancy programs higher offspring blood pressure, but similar data in humans are limited. We examined the associations of first and second trimester maternal protein intake with offspring blood pressure (BP) at the age of six months. METHODS: In a prospective US cohort study, called Project Viva, pregnant women completed validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to measure gestational protein intake. Among 947 mother-offspring pairs with first trimester dietary data and 910 pairs with second trimester data, we measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) up to five times with an automated device in the offspring at the age of six months. Controlling for blood pressure measurement conditions, maternal and infant characteristics, we examined the effect of energy-adjusted maternal protein intake on infant SBP using multivariable mixed effects models. RESULTS: Mean daily second trimester maternal protein intake was 17.6% of energy (mean 2111 kcal/day). First trimester nutrient intakes were similar. Mean SBP at age 6 months was 90.0 mm Hg (SD 12.9). Consistent with prior reports, adjusted SBP was 1.94 mm Hg lower [95% confidence interval (CI) -3.45 to -0.42] for each kg increase in birth weight. However, we did not find an association between maternal protein intake and infant SBP. After adjusting for covariates, the effect estimates were 0.14 mm Hg (95% CI 20.12 to 20.40) for a 1% increase in energy from protein during the second trimester, and 20.01 mm Hg (95% CI 20.24 to -0.23) for a 1% increase in energy from protein in the first trimester. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in maternal total protein intake during pregnancy does not appear to program offspring blood pressure.     

Relative Contribution of Gestational Weight Gain,Gestational Diabetes,and Maternal Obesity to Neonatal Fat Mass

Maternal nutritional and metabolic status influence fetal growth. This study investigated the contribution of gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational diabetes (GDM), and maternal obesity to birthweight and newborn body fat. It is a secondary analysis of a prospective study including 204 women with a pregestational body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–24.9 kg/m² and 219 women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². GDM was screened in the second and third trimester and was treated by dietary intervention, and insulin if required. Maternal obesity had the greatest effect on skinfolds (+1.4 mm) and cord leptin (+3.5 ng/mL), but no effect on birthweight. GWG was associated with increased birthweight and skinfolds thickness, independently from GDM and maternal obesity. There was an interaction between third trimester weight gain and GDM on birthweight and cord leptin, but not with maternal obesity. On average, +1 kg in third trimester was associated with +13 g in birthweight and with +0.64 ng/mL in cord leptin, and a further 32 g and 0.89 ng/mL increase in diabetic mothers, respectively. Maternal obesity is the main contributor to neonatal body fat. There is an independent association between third trimester weight gain, birthweight, and neonatal body fat, enhanced by GDM despite intensive treatment.     

Low maternal weight gain in the second or third trimester increases the risk for intrauterine growth retardation

Low maternal weight gain during pregnancy has been suggested as a cause of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). However, pregnancy weight gain and fetal growth vary greatly throughout pregnancy. We examined the relationship between maternal weight gain in individual trimesters to the risk of IUGR in 10,696 women enrolled in the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (NCPP) and the Child Health and Development Study (CHDS). Low weight gain was defined as <-0.1 kg/wk for the first trimester and <0.3 kg/wk for the second and third trimester. IUGR was defined as a birth weight <2500 g in full-term infants. Low weight gain in the first trimester was not associated with an increased risk of IUGR. After controlling for confounding factors (maternal height, body mass index, parity, race, toxemia, diabetes), low weight gain in the second trimester was associated with a relative risk of IUGR of 1.8 (1.3-2.6) in the NCPP cohort and 2.6 (1.6-4.1) in the CHDS cohort. Similarly, low weight gain in the third trimester was associated with a relative risk of IUGR of 1.7 (1.3-2.3) in the NCPP cohort and 2.5 (1.7-3.8) in the CHDS cohort. After correcting for weight gain in other trimesters, this increased risk remained. Increased risk of IUGR was observed with low second and third trimester weight gain across the spectrum of maternal body mass index. The risk of low weight gain in the second or third trimester was significantly lower in teenagers and significantly greater in overweight women and women aged 35 y or older. Low weight gain in either the second or third trimester was associated with a significantly greater risk of intrauterine growth retardation in two distinct cohorts. We conclude that increased awareness of maternal weight gain in mid and late pregnancy is critical to identifying infants at risk for IUGR.     

孕前体质指数、孕期增重与新生儿出生体重和分娩方式的关系

目的:探讨孕妇孕前体质指数(BMI)及孕期增重对新生儿出生体重和分娩方式的影响。方法:选取474名身体健康的孕晚期妇女作为调查对象,于分娩前后对孕妇及新生儿进行追踪调查,获得有效问卷442份。按孕前BMI及孕期增重分组进行整理分析。结果:调查对象孕期平均增重(15.80±4.60)kg,孕前超重及肥胖者孕期增重低于孕前低体重者(F=3.87,P<0.01)。新生儿平均出生体重(3 240.30±377.60)g,其中低出生体重儿10例(2.26%),巨大儿16例(3.62%)。剖宫产者占48.20%。Logistic回归分析显示,妇女孕前超重及肥胖是分娩巨大儿及剖宫产的危险因素;孕期增重>21.00 kg是分娩巨大儿的危险因素;增重>18.00 kg是剖宫产发生的危险因素。结论:孕前体质指数和孕期增重是巨大儿和剖宫产的重要影响因素,保持适宜的孕前体重及孕期合理增重对于改善出生结局有着积极的意义。     

Dietary folate intake during pregnancy and birth weight in Japan

BACKGROUND: Inadequate folate status has been associated with many negative reproductive outcomes, such as neural tube defects (NTD), low birth weight and placental abruption. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the levels of dietary folate intake during pregnancy in Japanese women and the subsequent birth weight of their babies. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted with 197 women with a singleton pregnancy in 2005. Dietary folate was investigated 3 times: in the first trimester at 12 weeks, in the second trimester at 20 weeks and in third trimester at 32 weeks using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ). Non fasting blood samples were collected from the women for measurement of homocysteine, hemoglobin, ferritin, unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). RESULTS: Energy intake increased as pregnancy advanced, but not significantly. The daily intake of folate increased from 248.5 +/- 113.1 microg/d in the first trimester to 275.4 +/- 100.2 microg/d in the third trimester (P = 0.04). This was well below the recommended level of 440 microg/d and only 10% of mothers were above the levels. In the third trimester, plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in the low folate group of less than 250 microg/d (P = 0.02), but not the first and second trimesters. Dietary folate intake and plasma homocysteine concentrations were not likely to be predictors of birth weight in our subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that Japanese women's energy and folate intakes do not meet their energy needs during pregnancy and are at an extremely low recommended dietary allowance level throughout pregnancy.     

Birth weight and height characteristics of triplets

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the birth weight and height in triplets, and to identify associated factors. METHOD: The subjects were 371 sets of triplets (1,113 triplets), who were born after 1986. Data on birth weight, birth height, gender, birth order, mode of delivery, gestational age, maternal weight gain at delivery, and infertility treatment were obtained. Pregravidic body mass index (BMI) was computed to evaluate maternal physique. RESULTS: Mean triplet birth weight was 1,763.3 +/- 420.6 g and mean birth height was 42.2 +/- 3.36 cm. Overall, 96% were low birth weight newborn, 24.4% were very low birth weight newborn, and 4.9% had less than 1,000 g weight. The triplet birth weight was significantly associated with gender (male > female), sex combination (opposite-sexed sets > same-sexed sets), mode of delivery (vaginal delivery > caesarean section), and pregravidic body mass index (BMI) (more than 26.0 kg/m2 > less than 19.8 kg/m2). There was a significant correlation coefficient between maternal weight gain at delivery and birth weight. The triplet birth height was significantly associated with gender (male > famale), sex combination (opposite-sexed sets > same-sexed sets), and pregravidic BMI (more than 26.0 kg/m2 > less than 19.8 kg/m2). Moreover, the birth height was associated with maternal weight gain at delivery and infertility treatment. CONCLUSION: The birth weight and birth height in triplets are much lower than those for singletons and twins. Triplet birth weight is associated with gender, birth order, pregravidic body mass index, mode of delivery, and maternal weight gain at delivery, taking into account gestational age. Birth height is associated with gender, pregravidic body mass index, and infertility treatment.     

Diet, prevalence and 10-year mortality from coronary heart disease in 871 middle-aged men. The Zutphen Study

The Zutphen Study is a longitudinal investigation among middle-aged men of relationships between diet, other risk characteristics, and coronary heart disease (CHD). In 1960, dietary data were collected by the cross-check dietary history method. CHD mortality data were collected during 10 years of follow-up. The 14 men with CHD at baseline consumed 524 kcal/day less than the 857 CHD-free men. During 10 years of follow-up, 30 men who were initially free of CHD died from CHD. Those men consumed 273 kcal/day less than men who did not die from CHD. The inverse relationship between energy intake and CHD became stronger when energy intake was expressed per kg of body weight. Dietary cholesterol per 1000 kcal was significantly positively related to CHD, while vegetable protein, polysaccharides, and dietary fiber were significantly inversely related to CHD. These relationships were no longer statistically significant when energy intake per kg of body weight was added to the logistic model. The inverse relationship between energy intake per kg of body weight and CHD became insignificant when subscapular skinfold and serum cholesterol were added to the logistic model. It is concluded that the influence of energy intake per kg of body weight on CHD is mediated through other risk characteristics: subscapular skinfold and serum cholesterol.     

Higher carbohydrate intake is associated with decreased incidence of newborn macrosomia in women with gestational diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of energy and macronutrient intake on infant birthweight in women with gestational diabetes mellitus undergoing intensive management. DESIGN: This prospective study evaluated the impact of intensive management of gestational diabetes on maternal and fetal morbidity, and addressed the relationship between food intake and infant birthweight. SETTING: Fifteen maternity hospitals in northern France. SUBJECTS: Ninety-nine women with gestational diabetes or gestational mild hyperglycemia diagnosed between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation were surveyed. After 1 was excluded because of a premature birth and 18 were excluded as underreporters, 80 women were included in the final analysis. Diet intake was assessed by a dietary history at the first interview, and by two 3-day diet records at the 3rd and 7th week after diagnosis. RESULTS: In a forward-stepwise regression analysis (controlling for maternal age; smoking; parity; prepregnancy BMI; pregnancy weight gain; gestational duration; infant sex; fasting and 2-hour postprandial serum glucose; insulin therapy; and energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate intake during treatment) infant birthweight was positively associated with gestational duration (beta = +0.34, P<.002), and negatively with smoking (beta = -0.27, P<.02) and carbohydrate intake (beta = -0.24, P<.03). There were no large-for-gestational-age infants among women whose carbohydrate intake exceeded 210 g/day. CONCLUSION: For women with gestational diabetes undergoing intensive management, higher carbohydrate intake is associated with decreased incidence of macrosomia. APPLICATION: These findings suggest that nutrition counseling in gestational diabetes must be directed to maintain a sufficient carbohydrate intake (at least 250 g per day), which implies a low-fat diet to limit energy intake. A careful distribution of carbohydrate throughout the day and the use of low-glycemic index foods may help limit postprandial hyperglycemia.     

The relationship between third trimester maternal weight gain,hematologic status and infant birthweight in Liberian mothers

In 1982, WHO estimated that 20 million infants had low birthweights (LBW) (i.e., <2500 g or 5.5 lb). Most were born in developing countries. Yet for Africa, few studies have examined the relationship between maternal nutrition and birth outcomes. Over 540 hospital records were examined to 1) estimate the proportion of LBW infants. Between 23 and 80 women were studied prospectively to: 2) examine the effects of maternal health complaints on pregnancy outcomes, 3) examine the relationship between weight gain during the 3rd trimester and pregnancy outcome, and 4) determine a weight gain associated with a favorable birthweight range for this sample of women. Results show a positive relationship between birthweight and 6th month maternal Hb values. A 3rd trimester gain of 6.62 kg (14.6 lb) is correlated with a favorable pregnancy outcome. Education was positively associated with 6th month pregnancy weights. Public health workers should concentrate both on iron deficiency anemia and weight gain during the last trimester to increase the chances for successful pregnancy outcomes.     

Trimester of Maternal Gestational Weight Gain and Offspring Body Weight at Birth and Age Five

To investigate associations of trimester-specific GWG with fetal birth size and BMI at age 5?years. We examined 3,015 singleton births to women without pregnancy complications from the Child Health and Development Studies prospective cohort with measured weights during pregnancy. We used multivariable regression to examine the associations between total and trimester gestational weight gain (GWG) and birth weight for gestational age and child BMI outcomes, adjusting for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and smoking; paternal overweight, gestational age, and infant sex. We explored differences in associations by maternal BMI and infant sex. GWG in all trimesters was significantly and independently associated with birth weight with associations stronger, though not significantly, in the second trimester. First trimester GWG was associated with child BMI outcomes (OR for child overweight?=?1.05; 95% CI?=?1.02, 1.09). Each kg of first trimester GWG was significantly associated with increased child BMI z-score in women of low (???=?0.099; 95% CI?=?0.034, 0.163) and normal (???=?0.028; 95% CI?=?0.012, 0.044), but not high pre-pregnancy BMI. GWG in all trimesters was associated with birth weight; only first trimester GWG was associated with child BMI. If replicated, this information could help specify recommendations for maternal GWG and elucidate mechanisms connecting GWG to child BMI.     

Higher maternal dietary protein intake in late pregnancy is associated with a lower infant ponderal index at birth

AIM: A high ponderal index at birth has been associated with later obesity and it has been suggested that intervention to prevent obesity and its sequela should consider the antenatal period. In this context, we investigated the association between maternal nutrition and birth anthropometry. DESIGN: We analyzed data on 1040 mother-infant pairs collected during the Tasmanian Infant Health Survey (TIHS), Tasmania, 1988-1989. Maternal dietary intake during pregnancy was measured by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) applied soon after birth. Outcomes of interest were birth weight, birth length, head circumference, ponderal index, head circumference -to-ponderal index ratio, placenta-to-birth weight ratio and head circumference-to-birth length index. RESULTS: In multiple regression model, an increase of 10 g of absolute protein intake/day was associated with a reduction in birth weight of 17.8 g (95% CI: -32.7, -3.0; P=0.02). Protein intake was also associated negatively with ponderal index (beta=-0.01; 95% CI: -0.02, -0.00; P=0.01). A 1 % increase in carbohydrate intake resulted in a 1% decline in placental weight relative to birth weight. Higher protein intake in the third trimester was associated with a reduced ponderal index among large birth weight infants but not low birth weight infants. CONCLUSIONS: This raises the possibility that any effect of high protein in altering infant anthropometry at birth may involve changes in body composition and future work to examine how a high-protein diet influences body composition at birth is warranted.     

Energy stress during pregnancy and lactation: consequences for maternal nutrition in rural Bangladesh

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of energy stress during pregnancy and lactation to maternal body stores in marginally nourished rural Bangladeshi women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two-hundred and fifty-two women were followed from 5-7 months of pregnancy until 6 months postpartum. Energy intake was estimated during pregnancy and at 1, 3 and 6 month(s) postpartum using 24 h dietary recall. Body weight was measured on enrollment, another once or twice during pregnancy, and at 1, 3 and 6 month(s) postpartum. The weekly rates of pregnancy weight gain and postpartum weight changes were determined. Weight and length of the infants were measured at birth and at approximately 1, 3 and 6 month(s). RESULTS: Maternal energy intake at 5-7 months of gestation was 1464+/-416 kcal/day (mean+/-s.d.). Women gained a mean of 200 g/week or a total of 4 kg during the second half of pregnancy. An analysis of maternal weight showed no indication of accrual of fat stores during pregnancy. Dietary energy during lactation exceeded the intake during pregnancy by 248-354 kcal/day. Mothers lost an estimated average of 1 kg of weight during the first 6 months of lactation. The mean (+/-s.d.) birth weight was 2.55+/-0.38 kg, and the prevalence of low birth weight (<2500 g) was 48%. Infants exhibited some catch-up growth only during the first 3 months but overall growth during the first 6 months did not change from their relative status at birth when compared with NCHS reference. CONCLUSIONS: These rural Bangladeshi women failed to gain sufficient weight during the last half of pregnancy to maintain body weight during lactation when the energy demand is high. Poor growth of their primarily breastfed infants raises concern about the adequacy of lactation in this community.     

E-DII与新生儿出生指标的关系及PLR和NLR对E-DII的验证

目的 研究孕晚期能量调整膳食炎症指数（energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index, E-DII）与新生儿出生指标的关系及使用血小板/淋巴细胞比值（platelet-to-lymphocyte radio, PLR）和中性粒/淋巴细胞比值（neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, NLR）评估E-DII的有效性。方法 选自2021年4月—2022年1月在安徽淮北市妇幼保健院建册的237名孕妇作为研究对象。根据食物频率问卷（food frequency questionnaire,FFQ）计算孕晚期E-DII,将E-DII等分为抗炎饮食组（Q1）、中间组（Q2）、促炎饮食组（Q3）。多元线性回归探究孕晚期E-DII评分与PLR、NLR的关系以及与新生儿出生体重、身长的关联。结果 多因素调整后,孕晚期E-DII每上升1个单位,PLR增加19.577个单位（P<0.05）、NLR增加0.590个单位（P<0.05）;新生儿的出生体重减少127.509 g(P<0.05)、身长减少0.864 cm(P<0.0...     

Maternal weight gain in second and third trimesters and their relationship with birth weights in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

A prospective study was carried out to determine the relationship between weight gain in the second and third trimesters with the corresponding birth weights in Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 270 pregnant women who gave birth to singleton deliveries and their consecutive newborns were randomly selected from among women who were attending one antenatal clinic. Average weight gains in second and third trimesters were 2.45 +/- 0.68 and 2.14 +/- 0.43 kg, respectively (a total of 4.59 +/- 1.11 kg) for the two trimesters. Weight gains per week were 0.47 +/- 0.16 and 0.33 +/- 0.13 kg for the second and third trimesters, respectively. Weight gain in the two trimesters was lower than the expected value for the same period. Results from Pearson correlation analysis found a positive correlation (P < 0.001) between birth weight and variables such as maternal age, gestational period, parity, weight gain in both second and third trimester, birth length and sex of an infant. Multiple regression analysis indicated that birth weight (dependent variable) was significantly affected by maternal weight gain in the third trimester, maternal age (both at P < 0.05) and birth length (P < 0.001). The incidence of low birth weight was about 8% and was significantly higher among infants of teenager mothers. It appears that despite of possibility of some physiological adaptations, which tend to protect the foetus when the woman is subjected to inadequate weight gain during pregnancy, weight gains in the second and third trimesters are important in determining the birth weight.     

Changes in maternal weight from the first to second trimester of pregnancy are associated with fetal growth and infant length at birth

BACKGROUND: Despite our knowledge of the negative consequences of stunting during early childhood and the important role that maternal nutritional status plays in the development of intrauterine growth retardation, we do not know the extent to which maternal nutritional status influences the growth in length of the fetus or whether a sensitive period for fetal linear growth exists during gestation. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the relation between maternal weight gain during different stages of pregnancy and linear growth of the fetus. DESIGN: Ultrasound examinations were conducted at 15-24 (x: 17.5) and 28-32 (x: 29.9) wk of gestation in 200 women from 4 rural Guatemalan villages. The associations between maternal weight gain from approximately 10 to 20 and 20 to 30 wk of pregnancy (from the first to the second and from the second to the third trimester, respectively) and fetal linear growth were tested with the use of ordinary least-squares regression. RESULTS: Maternal weight gain from the first to the second trimester was associated with fetal femur and tibia lengths measured at both means of 17 and 30 wk (P < 0.05) and infant length at birth (P < 0.001). Weight gain from the second to the third trimester of pregnancy did not predict fetal linear growth or infant length at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal weight change from the first to the second trimester of pregnancy is strongly associated with fetal growth. Mid-gestation may be a sensitive period for fetal linear growth.     

Low levels of viscous hydrocolloids lower plasma cholesterol in rats primarily by impairing cholesterol absorption

Hydrocolloids have been proposed as cholesterol-lowering agents, but their viscosity limits their use in human nutrition. A low level (1 %) of hydrocolloids (guar gum, (GG); xanthan gum, (XG); and konjac mannan) was investigated in rats fed 0.2 g/100 g cholesterol diets. Food intake and body weight gain were not altered by the diets. Bile flow and cholesterol bile flux were not modified by diet, whereas the bile acid flux was greater in rats fed hydrocolloid diets. The cecal pool of bile acids was greater than control rats only in rats fed the XG diet (+71%, P<0.001). The fecal excretion of neutral sterols was stimulated in rats fed the hydrocolloid diets; cholesterol apparent digestibility (60% in controls) was reduced to 30-36% in rats fed hydrocolloids. Bile acid fecal excretion was not altered by diet treatment. As a result, apparent steroid balance was about +40 micromol/d in controls and only +10 to +20 micromol/d in rats fed hydrocolloids. Both plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower than controls in rats fed XG, but only cholesterol was lower in rats fed the GG diet. These effects were essentially found in the d <1.040 kg/L fraction. Liver cholesterol content was significantly lower than in controls in rats fed the GG or XG diets. Liver HMG CoA reductase was not affected by the hydrocolloid diets. In conclusion, a low percentage of viscous hydrocolloids lowers plasma cholesterol in cholesterol-fed rats. Inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption may be the primary mechanism.     

Maternal Vitamin D and Newborn Telomere Length

Nutrition is important during pregnancy for offspring health. Gestational vitamin D intake may prevent several adverse outcomes and might have an influence on offspring telomere length (TL). In this study, we want to assess the association between maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy and newborn TL, as reflected by cord blood TL. We studied mother–child pairs enrolled in the Maternal Nutrition and Offspring’s Epigenome (MANOE) cohort, Leuven, Belgium. To calculate the dietary vitamin D intake, 108 women were asked to keep track of their diet using the seven-day estimated diet record (EDR) method. TL was assessed in 108 cord blood using a quantitative real-time PCR method. In each trimester of pregnancy, maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration was measured. We observed a positive association (β = 0.009, p-value = 0.036) between newborn average relative TL and maternal vitamin D intake (diet + supplement) during the first trimester. In contrast, we found no association between average relative TL of the newborn and mean maternal serum 25-OHD concentrations during pregnancy. To conclude, vitamin D intake (diet + supplements), specifically during the first trimester of pregnancy, is an important factor associated with TL at birth.