Maternal Dietary Patterns and Risk of Isolated Cleft Birth Defects in Utah - A Case-Control Study

Inadequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been suggested as a risk factor for oral cleft birth defects including the major groupings of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), and cleft palate alone (CP). Few studies have analyzed overall dietary patterns in relation to development of oral clefts. The purpose of this study is to examine the statistical associations between maternal dietary pattern scores and risk of oral clefts in Utah. Data collected from the Utah Oral Cleft Study was used as a starting point. New variables were formed to define maternal dietary patterns using the SPSS statistical analysis program. Derived dietary pattern variables were compared among mothers of Utah children with oral clefts (445 cases) and mothers of unaffected children (410 controls); these included scores based on intake of the following groups of foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low‐fat dairy foods, and an overall diet score based on the DASH dietary intervention studies. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of oral clefts by quintile of the food group and DASH scores while controlling for the potential confounding effects of maternal age, education, smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, and multivitamin use during pregnancy. Logistic regression analysis indicated a 40% reduction in risk of oral clefts (CL/P and CP combined) (OR=0.60) in mothers in the highest vs. lowest quintile of whole grain intake. The iii DASH dietary score was not significantly associated with risk of oral clefts. Periconceptional exposure to tobacco smoke and education levels were also associated with risk of CL/P. Periconceptional dietary intake of whole grains may significantly reduce incidence of isolated CLP in the offspring

A cross-sectional and longitudinal study investigating the physical activity and dietary intake of girls and boys aged 9-14 years in south west London and the effect of peers on these behaviours

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Effects of peer influence on dietary intake and physical activity in school children

Objective: To investigate the dietary intake and physical activity of boys and girls aged 9–13 years, and the influence of peers on these behaviours. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Nine primary and secondary schools in south-west London. Subjects: A total of 315 children wore sealed pedometers, provided self-report measures of dietary intake and answered a questionnaire relating to peer influence. Anthropometric measures of height and weight were also obtained. Results: Obese children had the lowest reported energy intakes and the lowest step counts per day. Boys took significantly more steps per day than girls, however girls were closer to achieving their recommended cut-offs for physical activity. Girls had lower energy intakes per day and lower BMI Z-scores than boys, however both genders, across all age groups, had higher than recommended intakes of saturated fat. There were significant associations between peer influence and physical activity levels but not between peer influence and dietary intake. Conclusions: Low energy intake and physical activity levels but high saturated fat intakes among boys and girls across all age groups highlight the importance of promoting both physical activity and healthy food choices. The finding that peers have a significant effect on physical activity levels but not on dietary intake offers an important approach for the design of health promotion interventions and obesity prevention programmes. Such designs may be particularly beneficial for obese youth, since the low physical activity levels found could be a major contributing factor to the maintenance of the condition