Browsing by Author "Balmert, Lauren"

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    Associations of alpha and gamma-tocopherol during early life with lung function in childhood
    (Elsevier, 2020) Kumar, Rajesh; Ferrie, Ryan; Balmert, Lauren; Kienzi, Matthew; Rifas-Shiman, Sheryl L.; Gold, Diane R.; Sordillo, Joanne E.; Kleinman, Ken; Camargo, Carlos A., Jr.; Litonjua, Augusto A.; Oken, Emily; Cook-Mills, Joan; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Tocopherol isoforms may regulate child lung growth and spirometric measures. Objective: Our aim was to determine the extent to which plasma a-tocopherol (a-T) or g-tocopherol (g-T) isoform levels in early childhood or in utero are associated with childhood lung function. Methods: We included 622 participants in the Project Viva cohort who had lung function at a mid-childhood visit (age 6-10 years). Maternal and child tocopherol isoform levels were measured by HPLC at the second trimester and 3 years of age, respectively. Multivariable linear regression models (adjusted for mid-childhood body mass index z scores, maternal education, smoking in pregnancy, and prenatal particulate matter with diameter of <2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) particulate exposure) stratified by tertiles of child g-T level were used to assess the association of a-T levels with FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) percent predicted. Similarly, models stratified by child a-T tertile evaluated associations of g-T levels with lung function. We performed similar analyses with maternal second trimester tocopherol isoform levels. Results: The median maternal second trimester a-T level was 63 mM (interquartile range 5 47-82). The median early-childhood level was 25 mM (interquartile range 5 20-33 mM). In the lowest tertile of early-childhood g-T, children with a higher a-T level (per 10 mM) had a higher mid-childhood FEV1 percent predicted (b 5 3.09; 95% CI 5 0.58-5.59 and a higher FVC percent predicted (b 5 2.77; 95% CI 5 0.47-5.06). This protective association of a-T was lost at higher g-T levels. We did not see any consistent associations of second trimester levels of either a-T or g-T with mid-childhood FEV1 or FVC. Conclusion: When g-T levels were in the lowest tertile, a higher early-childhood a-T level was associated with better lung function at mid-childhood. Second trimester maternal plasma a-T concentration was 3-fold higher than in the adult nonpregnant female population.
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    Dietary Fat and Fatty Acid Intake in Nulliparous Women: Associations with Preterm Birth and Distinctions by Maternal BMI
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-05-08) Robinson, Daniel T.; Van Horn, Linda; Balmert, Lauren; Silver, Robert M.; Parry, Samuel; Haas, David M.; Wing, Deborah A.; Grobman, William A.; Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine
    Background: Evidence documenting whether diet quality, particularly dietary fatty acids, is associated with preterm birth (PTB) is limited. Objective: The aim was to measure associations between dietary fatty acid intake prior to pregnancy, specifically n-3 (ɷ-3) PUFAs and odds of PTB in US women and determine if associations differed by prepregnancy BMI. Methods: We designed a secondary analysis of dietary intake in nulliparous women enrolled in a longitudinal cohort (NCT01322529). Participants completed an FFQ, modified to assess detailed PUFA intake, during the 3 mo preceding pregnancy. Inclusion in this analytic cohort required total energy intake within 2 SDs of the group mean. Prepregnancy BMI was categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. The primary exposure was estimated intake of EPA and DHA (combined EPA+DHA), in the context of a recommended intake of 250 mg. The primary outcome was PTB (<37 wk). Adjusted regression models controlled for maternal factors relevant to PTB and evaluated associations with PUFAs. Interaction terms estimated effect modification of BMI. A false discovery rate (FDR) correction accounted for multiple comparisons. Results: Median daily intake of combined EPA+DHA in 7365 women was 70 mg (IQR: 32, 145 mg). A significant interaction term indicated the effects of EPA+DHA on odds of PTB were different for different BMI categories (P < 0.01). Specifically, higher intake of combined EPA+DHA was nominally associated with reduced odds of PTB in women with underweight (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.46-0.98) and normal BMI (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78-0.96), yet was associated with increased odds of overweight BMI (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02-1.44). Associations remained significant after FDR correction. Conclusions: Based on a cohort of US women designed to identify predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes, dietary intake of combined EPA+DHA was considerably lower than recommended. Associations between intake of these recommended n-3 fatty acids and risk of PTB differ by maternal BMI.