A pilot randomised controlled trial investigating a Mediterranean diet intervention in pregnant women for the primary prevention of allergic diseases in infants

Mediterranean diet for the prevention of gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

It is elusive that whether that Mediterranean diet helps prevent gestational diabetes. This meta-analysis aims to study the efficacy of Mediterranean diet for gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We have systematically searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO and Cochrane library databases, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported the effect of Mediterranean diet on gestational diabetes.

RESULTS

We included five eligible RCTs in this meta-analysis. Compared with control intervention for pregnant women, Mediterranean diet could substantially decrease the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.51 to 0.79; p < 0.0001), HOMA-IR (MD = -0.29; 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.09; p = 0.004), insulin treatment (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.68; p = 0.0009) and gestational weight gain (MD = -0.74; 95% CI = -1.21 to -0.28; p = 0.002), but demonstrated no obvious impact on the admission of neonatal unit (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.47 to 1.20; p = 0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

Mediterranean diet can effectively prevent gestational diabetes mellitus.

Food Protein-Induced Allergic Proctocolitis: The Effect of Maternal Diet During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in a Mediterranean Population

Background

The aim of the current investigation was to explore the association of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) with the maternal diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding in Greek infants.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective case-control study was conducted in 6 regions in Greece, with 96 mothers of infants with and 141 mothers of infants without a history of FPIAP. Maternal dietary habits during pregnancy and breastfeeding were evaluated with the following validated questionnaires: (a) The Mediterranean Diet Score and (b) The Mediterranean Oriented Culture-Specific Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Results

FPIAP was associated with cow's milk (83.6%), egg (7.3%), wheat (6.4%), and beef (6.4%) in the maternal diet. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet was similar among the mothers. Mothers of FPIAP infants consumed more vegetables. Elastic net prediction models showed that, in this Mediterranean population, increased consumption during pregnancy and lactation of common allergens, whole grain products, homemade food, fish and shellfish, and fruits was associated with a decreased risk of FPIAP. Conversely, a high intake of vegetables, sugar and total fat, and non-stick/grilled cooking, were associated with increased risk of FPIAP, as was a high intake of salt and white flour during lactation only.

Conclusions

Components of a maternal Mediterranean Diet may protect against FPIAP when traditional cooking methods are adopted and fish, fruit, and whole wheat products are consumed frequently during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Effect of Mediterranean diet for pregnant women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Mediterranean diet might be a promising approach to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus. However, the results remained controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effect of Mediterranean diet on gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of Mediterranean diet on gestational diabetes mellitus were included. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model.

RESULTS

Four RCTs involving 2277 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention for pregnant women, Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.52 to 0.82; p = .0003) and gestational weight gain (SMD = -0.15; 95% CI = -0.26 to -0.05; p = .004), but had no obvious effect on preeclampsia (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 0.52-2.11; p = .91), preterm delivery (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.20-1.55; p = .26) or neonatal unit (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.43-1.19; p = .19).

CONCLUSIONS

Mediterranean diet may be effective to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus.

Nutritional Issues in Food Allergy

Diet and nutrition play an important role in the development and management of food allergy. The diet of expectant mothers can have an effect on their offspring in terms of allergic outcomes. A host of confounding factors may influence this, with a maternal diet rich in fruits and vegetables, fish, vitamin D-rich foods associated with a lower risk of allergic disease in their children. More surprisingly, the consumption of milk and butter has also been shown to have a protective effect, especially in a farm environment. Similarly, the diet of the infant can also be important, not only in terms of breast feeding, but also the timing of the introduction of complementary foods, the diversity of the diet and the effect of individual foods on the development of allergy. One factor which has clearly been shown not to influence the development of food allergy is allergen avoidance by expectant mothers. In the infant diet, the manipulation of the gut microbiome to prevent the development of atopic disease is clearly an area which promises much, although studies have yet to provide a breakthrough in the prevention of atopic dermatitis. More concrete evidence of the value of diet in prevention has come from studies evaluating infant eating patterns which may protect gut health, through the consumption of large amounts of home-processed fruits and vegetables. The consumption of fish during the first year of life has also been shown to be protective. The importance of nutritional issues in children and adults who have a food allergy has become much more accepted in recent years. The primary allergenic foods in infancy and childhood, milk, egg, wheat and soy are also ones which are present in many foods and thus their avoidance can be problematic from a nutritional perspective. Thus, children with a food allergy can have their growth compromised through avoidance, especially pre-diagnosis, when foods may be excluded without any expert nutritional input. The management of a food allergy largely remains the exclusion of the offending food(s), but it is now clear that in doing so, children in particular can be at nutritional risk if insufficient attention is paid to the rest of the diet. Adults with food allergy are often thought not to need nutritional counselling; however, many will exclude a wide range of foods due to anxiety about trace exposure, or similar foods causing reactions. The avoidance of staple foods such as milk and wheat are common, but substitute foods very often do not have comparable nutritional profiles. Adults may also be more susceptible to on-line promotion of extreme nutritional regimes which can be extremely harmful. All food allergic individuals, whatever their age, should have a nutrition review to ensure they are consuming a healthy, balanced diet, and are not avoiding food groups unnecessarily.

Prenatal Diet and the Development of Childhood Allergic Diseases: Food for Thought

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The development of allergic disease is shaped by genetics and the environment, including diet. Many studies suggest a role for maternal diet during pregnancy. In this article, we discuss potential mechanisms by which specific nutrients, particular foods, and dietary patterns may influence allergic disease development and review studies examining the relationship between prenatal diet and the risk of childhood allergy.

RECENT FINDINGS

The combination of in utero exposures and genetic predisposition may contribute to the development of allergic disease by altering immune and organ development. Inflammation predominates in the first and third trimesters whereas the second trimester is characterized by anti-inflammatory and Th2 immune responses. Maternal dietary exposures during pregnancy may interact with inherited genetic risk factors influence immune system development. There are varied results regarding the impact of maternal prenatal diet on the development of childhood allergies. Well-designed randomized controlled studies are needed to clarify this area.

Better understanding of childhood asthma, towards primary prevention - are we there yet? Consideration of pertinent literature

Asthma is a chronic disease, characterized by reversible airway obstruction, airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity. The prevalence of asthma has risen dramatically over the past decade, affecting around 300,000,000 people. The etiology is multifactorial, with genetic, epigenetic, developmental and environmental factors playing a role. A complex interaction between the intrauterine environment, the developing immune system, the infant's microbiome and infectious organisms may lead to the development of allergic sensitization and asthma. Thus, a large number of studies have investigated the risk factors for childhood asthma, with a meticulous search of modifiable factors that could aid in primary prevention.

We present a current literature review from 2014-2017, as well as older classic publications, on the pathogenesis and the potential modifiable factors for primary prevention of asthma. No ideal preventive measure has yet been found. Rather, creating favorable prenatal and postnatal environments, minimal exposure to hostile environmental factors, prevention of infections in early life, allergic desensitization and nutritional modifications could possibly reduce asthma inception. In the era of personalized medicine, identifying individual risk factors and tailoring specific preventive measures is warranted.