Maternal fruit and vegetable or vitamin C consumption during pregnancy is associated with fetal growth and infant growth up to 6 months: results from the Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) cohort study

• Published in: Nutrition journal 2018-11, Vol.17 (1), p.105-105, Article 105
• Main Authors: Jang, Won, Kim, Hyesook, Lee, Bo-Eun, Chang, Namsoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Birth length; Birth weight; Birth Weight - physiology; Child Development - physiology; Children; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Diet - methods; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Health; Female; Fetal development; Fetal Development - physiology; Fetal growth; Fetuses; Food and nutrition; Fruit; Fruits; Fruits (Food); Gestation; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Humans; Infant; Infant development; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Male; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Mothers; Multiple regression analysis; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Republic of Korea; Studies; Ultrasound; Vegetables; Vitamin C; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Womens health
• ISSN: 1475-2891; 1475-2891
• DOI: 10.1186/s12937-018-0410-6

Based on data obtained from pregnant women who participated in the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study in South Korea, we aimed to determine whether maternal intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C is associated with fetal and infant growth. A total of 1138 Korean pregnant women at 12-28 weeks gestation with their infants were recruited as study participants for the MOCEH. Intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C during pregnancy was assessed by a 1-day 24-h recall method. Fetal biometry was determined by ultrasonography at late pregnancy. Infant weight and length were measured at birth and 6 months. A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for covariates showed that maternal intake of fruits and vegetables was positively associated with the biparietal diameter of the fetus and infant's weight from birth to 6 months. Also, maternal vitamin C intake was positively associated with the abdominal circumference of the fetus and infant birth length. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between consumption of fruits and vegetables (below the median compared to above the median of ≥519 g/d) and the risk of low growth (