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Publication Detail

Title: Mediterranean-Style Diet and Birth Outcomes in an Urban, Multiethnic, and Low-Income US Population.

Authors: Rhee, Dong Keun; Ji, Yuelong; Hong, Xiumei; Pearson, Colleen; Wang, Xiaobin; Caulfield, Laura E

Published In Nutrients, (2021 Apr 03)

Abstract: Findings on the role of Mediterranean-style diet (MSD) on duration of pregnancy and birth weight have been inconsistent and based largely on Non-Hispanic white populations, making it unclear as to whether they could extend to African Americans who are at a higher risk of unfavorable birth outcomes. Our study addresses this gap using a large urban, multiethnic, predominantly low-income cohort of mother-infant dyads from Boston, MA, USA. Dietary information was obtained via food frequency questionnaires; health information including birth outcomes were extracted from medical records. A Mediterranean-style diet score (MSDS) was formulated based on intake history, and linear and log-binomial regressions were performed to assess its association with birth outcomes. After adjustment, the lowest MSDS quintile from the overall sample was found to be associated with an increased relative risk (RR) of overall preterm birth (RR 1.18; 95% CI: 1.06-1.31), spontaneous preterm birth (1.28; 1.11-1.49), late preterm birth (1.21; 1.05-1.39), and low birth weight (1.11; 1.01-1.22), compared to the highest quintile. The findings were similar for the African American sample. Our study adds to the current understanding of the diet's influence on birth outcomes by demonstrating that adherence to MSD may improve birth outcomes for African American women.

PubMed ID: 33916686 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Birth Weight; Boston/epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Diet Surveys/statistics & numerical data; Diet, Mediterranean/statistics & numerical data*; Female; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*; Poverty; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome*; Premature Birth/epidemiology*; Protective Factors; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data*; Young Adult

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