The SEATON cohort comprising 2000 pregnant women recruited 1997-99 was established to test if maternal nutrition during pregnancy affects the likelihood of children developing asthma. At 32 weeks gestation mothers’ diets were assessed by food frequency questionnaire. 1,924 live singleton births comprised the birth cohort with follow-up at 6 months, 1, 2, 5 and 10 years (the latter the focus of this thesis). Children’s diets were assessed at 5 and 10 years. Their asthmatic status was assessed by International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Children participating at 5 or 10 years were also invited for measurement of spirometry and allergy. Cross-sectionally at 10 years 934 children (48% boys) participated by return of questionnaire, 449 also took part in the in-depth assessment. Higher maternal vitamin D intakes were associated with decreased odds of ‘doctor diagnosed asthma’, ‘wheeze ever’ and ‘wheeze in the last year’ in the children. Contrary to findings at 5 years no association between maternal vitamin E intake and asthma outcomes was seen. Longitudinally over the 10 years of the study, higher maternal vitamin D and E intakes during pregnancy were both associated with a decreased likelihood of ‘doctor diagnosed asthma’, ‘active asthma’ and ‘wheeze in the last year’ in the children. In conclusion, reduced maternal vitamin D and E intakes during pregnancy are associated with an increased likelihood of childhood asthma during the first ten years of life. Vitamin E appears to be associated with early asthma and wheeze possibly reflecting a role in affecting early airway remodelling processes. Associations with vitamin D were seen consistently over different time-points, possibly having its effect in an immunomodulatory fashion. Intervention trials are required to ascertain if intervention during pregnancy actually reduces childhood asthma rates.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:553745 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Allan, Keith M. |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=185609 |
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