Maternal Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy and Childhood Bone Mass: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Maternal nutrition is a potentially important determinant of intrauterine skeletal development. Previous studies have examined the effects of individual nutrients, but the pattern of food consumption may be of greater relevance. We therefore examined the relationship between maternal dietary pattern during pregnancy and bone mass of the offspring at 9 yr of age. We studied 198 pregnant women 17-43 yr of age and their offspring at 9 yr of age. Dietary pattern was assessed using principal component analysis from a validated food frequency questionnaire. The offspring underwent measurements of bone mass using DXA at 9 yr of age. A high prudent diet score was characterized by elevated intakes of fruit, vegetables, and wholemeal bread, rice, and pasta and low intakes of processed foods. Higher prudent diet score in late pregnancy was associated with greater (p < 0.001) whole body and lumbar spine BMC and areal BMD in the offspring, after adjustment for sex, socioeconomic status, height, arm circumference, maternal smoking, and vitamin D status. Associations with prudent diet score in early pregnancy were weaker and nonsignificant. We conclude that dietary patterns consistent with current advice for healthy eating during pregnancy are associated with greater bone size and BMD in the offspring at 9 yr of age.

High folate and low vitamin B-12 intakes during pregnancy are associated with small-for-gestational age infants in South Indian women: a prospective observational cohort study

“…Nevertheless, these micronutrient imbalances are important, as borne out by the finding of global hypomethylation in rats with a vitamin B-12: folate ratio imbalance (38). In general, a balanced diet (and supplementation) is perhaps most likely to define a balanced fetal nutrient environment; for example, prudent diets (including more fruit, vegetables, and whole and unprocessed foods) in mothers have been shown to be associated with better bone mass accretion patterns in their offspring (39).…”

Epigenetic influences in the developmental origins of osteoporosis

“…In most studies, maternal diet has been considered in terms of intake of specific nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D. However, these nutrients comprise parts of broader dietary patterns and one recent study has explored maternal diet in more detail in relation to skeletal health in the offspring and showed that a high maternal prudent diet score (high intakes of fruit and vegetables, wholemeal bread, rice and pasta, yoghurt and breakfast cereals and low intakes of chips and roast potatoes, sugar, white bread, processed meat, crisps, tinned vegetables and soft drinks) was found to be associated with greater bone size and areal BMD in the offspring [22]. The observed effect was independent of social class, education, maternal height, maternal smoking status and late pregnancy vitamin D levels as well as childhood height, weight and exercise.…”

Dietary patterns and significance of nutrition for women with low-risk pregnancy

“…In some studies, similar patterns were found with different names, such as "vegetable" [1] "health conscious" [24] and "prudent" [25,26].…”

“…This may also lead to decreased risk of childhood obesity, respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and other health problems [3,25].…”