AUTHOR=Morales Eva , García-Serna Azahara M. , Larqué Elvira , Sánchez-Campillo María , Serrano-Munera Ana , Martinez-Graciá Carmen , Santaella-Pascual Marina , Suárez-Martínez Clara , Vioque Jesús , Noguera-Velasco José A. , Avilés-Plaza Francisco V. , Martínez-Villanueva Miriam , Ballesteros-Meseguer Carmen , Galdo-Castiñeira Lina , García-Marcos Luis TITLE=Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Mothers and Offspring: The NELA Birth Cohort JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.869357 DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.869357 ISSN=2296-861X ABSTRACT=Background

Although adherence to the Mediterranean and antioxidant-rich diets during pregnancy is suggested to improve maternal-fetal health by reducing oxidative stress, yet there is no study available.

Objective

We examined whether maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy impact the biomarkers of oxidative stress in mothers and their offspring.

Methods

Study population included 642 mothers and 335 newborns of the “Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma” (NELA) birth cohort. Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire and a priori-defined dietary indices (relative Mediterranean Diet [rMED], alternative Mediterranean Diet [aMED], Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension [DASH], Alternate Healthy Index [AHEI], and AHEI-2010) were calculated. Biomarkers measured were: hydroperoxides, carbonyl groups, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) determined in maternal blood and newborn cord blood, and urinary maternal and offspring 15-F2t-isoprostane. Multivariate linear regression models were performed.

Results

Maternal rMED score was inversely associated with the maternal levels of 8OHdG at mid-pregnancy (beta per 1-point increase = −1.61; 95% CI −2.82, −0.39) and the newborn levels of hydroperoxides (beta per 1-point increase = −4.54; 95% CI −9.32, 0.25). High vs. low maternal rMED score was marginally associated with the decreased levels of 8OHdG in newborns (beta = −9.17; 95% CI −19.9, 1.63; p for trend 0.079). Maternal DASH score tended to be inversely associated with maternal urinary 15-F2t-isoprostane (beta per 1-point increase = −0.69; 95% CI, −1.44, 0.06). High vs. low maternal AHEI score was associated with reduced offspring urinary levels of 15-F2t-isoprostane (beta = −20.2; 95% CI −38.0, −2.46; p for trend 0.026).

Conclusion

These results suggest that maternal adherence to healthy dietary patterns during pregnancy may reduce DNA damage and lipid oxidation in mothers and offspring.