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Favara G, Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Magnano San Lio R, La Rosa MC, La Mastra C, Galvani F, Pappalardo E, Ettore C, Ettore G, Agodi A. Social and Nutritional Profiles of Pregnant Women: A Cluster Analysis on the "MAMI-MED" Cohort. Nutrients 2024; 16:3975. [PMID: 39683369 DOI: 10.3390/nu16233975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2024] [Revised: 11/14/2024] [Accepted: 11/19/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES During the pre-conceptional period, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) is essential for reducing maternal health disparities, particularly among disadvantaged groups. Key SDOH factors such as income, education, and healthcare access significantly influence maternal and infant outcomes, increasing risks like miscarriage, preterm birth, and pregnancy complications. Here, we aimed to explore maternal and neonatal characteristics according to socio-economic status. Thus, we identified clusters of pregnant women with similar social and behavioral characteristics and explored their variability in terms of neonatal outcomes. METHODS Data from 1512 pregnant women in the "MAMI-MED" cohort at ARNAS Garibaldi Nesima in Catania were analyzed. A two-step cluster analysis grouped the women based on education level, employment status, pre-pregnancy nutritional status, and Mediterranean diet score (MDS). RESULTS Two clusters of pregnant women were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 739) consisted of women with lower educational attainment who were unemployed, overweight and/or obese, and had a lower mean MDS. Instead, cluster 2 (n = 773) was mostly characterized by women with a medium-high level of education who were employed, had normal weight, and had a higher average MDS. Women in cluster 1 had significantly higher proportions of preterm births (p = 0.004), low-birth weight newborns (p = 0.002), and large-for-gestational-age newborns. Differences in gestational week (p < 0.001), birth weight (p < 0.001), and newborn length (p = 0.004) were also noted between the two clusters. CONCLUSIONS Cluster analysis can help identify high-risk groups who may benefit from personalized public health interventions. Our results highlight the need to examine the complex interactions between socio-demographic, behavioral, and genetic factors that contribute to maternal-infant health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Favara
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Roberta Magnano San Lio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Clara La Rosa
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Claudia La Mastra
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Fabiola Galvani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Pappalardo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Ettore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ettore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Barchitta M, Magnano San Lio R, La Rosa MC, La Mastra C, Favara G, Ferrante G, Galvani F, Pappalardo E, Ettore C, Ettore G, Agodi A, Maugeri A. The Effect of Maternal Dietary Patterns on Birth Weight for Gestational Age: Findings from the MAMI-MED Cohort. Nutrients 2023; 15:1922. [PMID: 37111140 PMCID: PMC10147093 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited evidence exists on the effects of maternal dietary patterns on birth weight, and most studies conducted so far did not adjust their findings for gestational age and sex, leading to potentially biased conclusions. In the present study, we applied a novel method, namely the clustering on principal components, to derive dietary patterns among 667 pregnant women from Catania (Italy) and to evaluate the associations with birth weight for gestational age. We identified two clusters reflecting distinct dietary patterns: the first one was mainly characterized by plant-based foods (e.g., potatoes, cooked and raw vegetables, legumes, soup, fruits, nuts, rice, wholemeal bread), fish and white meat, eggs, butter and margarine, coffee and tea; the second one consisted mainly of junk foods (sweets, dips, salty snacks, and fries), pasta, white bread, milk, vegetable and olive oils. Regarding small gestational age births, the main predictors were employment status and primiparity, but not the adherence to dietary patterns. By contrast, women belonging to cluster 2 had higher odds of large for gestational age (LGA) births than those belonging to cluster 1 (OR = 2.213; 95%CI = 1.047-4.679; p = 0.038). Moreover, the odds of LGA increased by nearly 11% for each one-unit increase in pregestational BMI (OR = 1.107; 95%CI = 1.053-1.163; p < 0.001). To our knowledge, the present study is the first to highlight a relationship between adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern and the likelihood of giving birth to a LGA newborn. This evidence adds to the current knowledge about the effects of diet on birth weight, which, however, remains limited and controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Roberta Magnano San Lio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Clara La Rosa
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Claudia La Mastra
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Favara
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ferrante
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Fabiola Galvani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Pappalardo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Ettore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ettore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Agodi A. How Wearable Sensors Can Support the Research on Foetal and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020218. [PMID: 36836452 PMCID: PMC9961108 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of innovative technologies, and in particular of wearable devices, can potentially transform the field of antenatal care with the aim of improving maternal and new-born health through a personalized approach. The present study undertakes a scoping review to systematically map the literature about the use wearable sensors in the research of foetal and pregnancy outcomes. Online databases were used to identify papers published between 2000-2022, from which we selected 30 studies: 9 on foetal outcomes and 21 on maternal outcomes. Included studies focused primarily on the use of wearable devices for monitoring foetal vital signs (e.g., foetal heart rate and movements) and maternal activity during pregnancy (e.g., sleep patterns and physical activity levels). There were many studies that focused on development and/or validation of wearable devices, even if often they included a limited number of pregnant women without pregnancy complications. Although their findings support the potential adoption of wearable devices for both antenatal care and research, there is still insufficient evidence to design effective interventions. Therefore, high quality research is needed to determine which and how wearable devices could support antenatal care.
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Magnano San Lio R, Barchitta M, Maugeri A, La Rosa MC, Giunta G, Panella M, Cianci A, Galvani F, Pappalardo E, Ettore G, Agodi A. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dietary Patterns of Pregnant Women: A Comparison between Two Mother-Child Cohorts in Sicily, Italy. Nutrients 2022; 14:3380. [PMID: 36014886 PMCID: PMC9416210 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A maternal diet, before and during pregnancy, plays a key role in ensuring maternal and newborn health. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, may have compromised dietary habits in the general population and in specific subgroups of individuals. Here, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the diet of pregnant women, using data from two mother-child cohorts in Sicily (Italy). Dietary data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire and analyzed through the Mediterranean diet (MD) score and principal component analysis (PCA). The comparison of maternal dietary consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic showed differences in terms of vegetables (p < 0.001), fruit (p < 0.001), dairy products (p < 0.001), fish (p < 0.001), and legumes (p = 0.001). Accordingly, after adjusting for covariates, mothers enrolled during the pandemic were more likely to report low adherence to MD than those enrolled before (OR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.12−2.42; p = 0.011). A similar result was obtained by analyzing the adherence to a prudent dietary pattern, derived through PCA and characterized by high intake of cooked and row vegetables, legumes, fruit, fish, and soup. Overall, these findings suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced maternal diet during pregnancy. However, further efforts are needed to investigate the main causes and consequences of this change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Magnano San Lio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Clara La Rosa
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Giunta
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, via S. Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Panella
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, via S. Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Cianci
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, via S. Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Fabiola Galvani
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Elisa Pappalardo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ettore
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Nesima, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Magnano San Lio R, Maugeri A, La Rosa MC, Giunta G, Panella M, Cianci A, Caruso MAT, Agodi A, Barchitta M. Nutrient intakes and telomere length of cell-free circulating DNA from amniotic fluid: findings from the Mamma & Bambino cohort. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11671. [PMID: 35804173 PMCID: PMC9270384 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15370-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a crucial period in which several exposures—and especially maternal diet—might shape children’s health. Thus, identifying how maternal dietary intakes early affect biological aging in children represents a public health mission. We aimed to assess the relationship between maternal intake of nutrients in early pregnancy and telomere length of cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) from amniotic fluid. We used data and samples from the ongoing prospective “Mamma & Bambino” study, which recruits mother–child pairs from Catania at the first prenatal visit. Maternal nutrient intakes were assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire, while relative telomere length of cfDNA was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our analysis included 174 mother–child pairs. The intakes of iron, vitamin B1, and magnesium were positively correlated with relative telomere length (p-values < 0.05). However, only the intake of magnesium was positively associated with relative telomere length, after applying a linear regression model (β = 0.002; SE = 0.001; p = 0.024). Magnesium deficiency was negatively associated with relative telomere length after adjusting for the same covariates (β = −0.467; SE = 0.176; p = 0.009). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a positive relationship between maternal nutrient intake and telomere length of cfDNA. Further efforts are needed for deeply investigating the effect of maternal dietary intakes on telomere length, in order to develop effective public health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Magnano San Lio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Clara La Rosa
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Giunta
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Panella
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Cianci
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Anna Teresa Caruso
- Cytogenetic Laboratory, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico "G.Rodolico - San Marco", Via S.Sofia, 78, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 87, 95123, Catania, Italy.
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via S.Sofia, 87, 95123, Catania, Italy
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Agodi A. Using Google Trends to Predict COVID-19 Vaccinations and Monitor Search Behaviours about Vaccines: A Retrospective Analysis of Italian Data. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10010119. [PMID: 35062780 PMCID: PMC8778420 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Google Trends data are an efficient source for analysing internet search behaviour and providing valuable insights into community dynamics and health-related problems. In this article, we aimed to evaluate if Google Trends data could help monitor the COVID-19 vaccination trend over time and if the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines modified the interest of pregnant women in vaccination. Data related to Google internet searches and the number of vaccine doses administered in Italy were used. We found moderate to strong correlations between search volumes of vaccine-related terms and the number of vaccines administered. In particular, a model based on Google Trends with a 3-week lag showed the best performance in fitting the number of COVID-19 vaccinations over time. We also observed that the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines affected the search interest for the argument “vaccination in pregnancy” both quantitatively and qualitatively. There was a significant increase in the search interest after the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy. Qualitative analysis suggested that this increase was probably due to concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, our study suggests the benefits of using Google Trends data to predict the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, and to monitor feelings about vaccination.
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The Relationship between Telomere Length and Gestational Weight Gain: Findings from the Mamma & Bambino Cohort. Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010067. [PMID: 35052747 PMCID: PMC8773008 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) affects a growing number of pregnancies, influencing intrauterine environment and long-term health. Uncovering molecular mechanisms associated with GWG could be helpful to develop public health strategies for tackling this issue. Here, our study aimed to understand the relationship of DNA telomere length with weigh gain during pregnancy, using data and samples from the ongoing prospective “Mamma & Bambino” study (Catania, Italy). GWG was calculated according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. Relative telomere length was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 252 samples of maternal leucocyte DNA (mlDNA) and 150 samples of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from amniotic fluid. We observed that relative telomere length of mlDNA seemed to weakly increase with GWG. In contrast, telomere length of cfDNA exhibited a U-shaped relationship with GWG. Women with adequate GWG showed longer telomere length than those who gained weight inadequately. Accordingly, the logistic regression model confirmed the association between telomere length of cfDNA and adequate GWG, after adjusting for potential confounders. Our findings suggest an early effect of GWG on telomere length of cfDNA, which could represent a molecular mechanism underpinning the effects of maternal behaviours on foetal well-being.
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Bonito B, Balzi D, Boccalini S, Bonanni P, Mereu G, Santini MG, Bechini A. Descriptive Observational Study of Tdap Vaccination Adhesion in Pregnant Women in the Florentine Area (Tuscany, Italy) in 2019 and 2020. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9090955. [PMID: 34579192 PMCID: PMC8473358 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9090955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-acellular Pertussis) vaccination is nowadays a worldwide-recommended practice to immunize pregnant women. The vaccine administration at the third trimester of pregnancy (as recommended by the WHO) would ensure antibody protection to both the mother and the newborn and has contributed to the significant drop of pertussis cases in infants. The aim of this observational study was to describe for the first time the socio-demographic characteristics and determinants of Tdap vaccination adhesion of pregnant women in the Florentine area. Methods: Information about parents’ vaccination status, their citizenship, employment type and mothers’ previous pregnancies and/or abortions were collected at the time of birth through the assistance birth certificates (CedAP) both for the years 2019 and 2020. This archive and the regional SISPC (Collective Prevention Healthcare Information System) linked using an anonymous unique personal identifier to retrieve the mother’s vaccination status. Results: We found an overall Tdap vaccination adhesion of 43% in 2019 and 47.3% in 2020. Several socio-demographic parameters would determine an increased vaccination adhesion, including parents’ geographical origin, mothers’ age and educational background, as well as the number of previous deliveries, abortions or voluntary termination of pregnancy. Conclusions: Since not much data are available on this topic in Italy, this study may constitute the baseline information for Tdap vaccination adhesion in pregnant women in the Florentine area (Italy). Thus, future successful vaccination strategies may be designed accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Bonito
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.B.); (P.B.)
| | - Daniela Balzi
- AUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (G.M.); (M.G.S.)
| | - Sara Boccalini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.B.); (P.B.)
| | - Paolo Bonanni
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.B.); (P.B.)
| | - Giovanna Mereu
- AUSL Toscana Centro, 50122 Florence, Italy; (D.B.); (G.M.); (M.G.S.)
| | | | - Angela Bechini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy; (B.B.); (S.B.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-055-2751-081
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Maugeri A, Barchitta M, Magnano San Lio R, La Rosa MC, La Mastra C, Favara G, Ferlito M, Giunta G, Panella M, Cianci A, Agodi A. The Effect of Alcohol on Telomere Length: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence and a Pilot Study during Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18095038. [PMID: 34068820 PMCID: PMC8126216 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18095038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Several studies—albeit with still inconclusive and limited findings—began to focus on the effect of drinking alcohol on telomere length (TL). Here, we present results from a systematic review of these epidemiological studies to investigate the potential association between alcohol consumption, alcohol-related disorders, and TL. The analysis of fourteen studies—selected from PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases—showed that people with alcohol-related disorders exhibited shorter TL, but also that alcohol consumption per se did not appear to affect TL in the absence of alcohol abuse or dependence. Our work also revealed a lack of studies in the periconceptional period, raising the need for evaluating this potential relationship during pregnancy. To fill this gap, we conducted a pilot study using data and samples form the Mamma & Bambino cohort. We compared five non-smoking but drinking women with ten non-smoking and non-drinking women, matched for maternal age, gestational age at recruitment, pregestational body mass index, and fetal sex. Interestingly, we detected a significant difference when analyzing relative TL of leukocyte DNA of cord blood samples from newborns. In particular, newborns from drinking women exhibited shorter relative TL than those born from non-drinking women (p = 0.024). Although these findings appeared promising, further research should be encouraged to test any dose–response relationship, to adjust for the effect of other exposures, and to understand the molecular mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Maugeri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Martina Barchitta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Roberta Magnano San Lio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Maria Clara La Rosa
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Claudia La Mastra
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Giuliana Favara
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Marco Ferlito
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Giuliana Giunta
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (M.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Marco Panella
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (M.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonio Cianci
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (G.G.); (M.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonella Agodi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.M.); (M.B.); (R.M.S.L.); (M.C.L.R.); (C.L.M.); (G.F.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence:
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