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

Abstract

BackgroundBased 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.MethodsA total of 1138 Korean pregnant women at 12-28weeks 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 6months.ResultsA 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 6months. 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 519g/d) and the risk of low growth (<25th percentile) of biparietal diameter (odds ratio (OR): 2.220; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.153-4.274) and birth weight (OR: 1.434; 95% CI: 1.001-2.056). A significant inverse relationship also existed between vitamin C consumption (below vs above the estimated average requirement (EAR) of 85mg/d) and the risk of low growth (<25th percentile) of birth weight (OR: 1.470; 95% CI: 1.011-2.139), weight from birth to 6months (OR: 1.520; 95% CI: 1.066-2.165), and length at birth (OR: 1.579; 95% CI: 1.104-2.258).ConclusionsAn increased intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C at mid-pregnancy is associated with increased fetal growth and infant growth up to 6months of age.