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Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Birth Size: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Maugeri, A, Barchitta, M, Blanco, I, Agodi, A
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Vitamin D deficiency may affect mother and neonatal outcomes, increasing the risk of pregnancy complications, preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and poor offspring health. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effects of oral vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on foetal growth and incidence of LBW and SGA births. 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), published between 1980 and 2016, were included in the meta-analysis, including in total 2016 newborns (1184 from mothers in the intervention groups and 832 from controls). Dosages ranged from 200-4000 IU for daily intakes and 35000 IU to 600000 IU for single or intermittent administration. Whilst there was no evidence for publication bias (e.g. an over-reporting of positive outcomes), overall, the quality of the reviewed studies varied from very low (head circumference) to moderate (birth weight, birth length, LBW, and SGA). All studies evaluating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (OHD) levels showed that intervention significantly increased 25-OHD concentration in both mothers and infants. The meta-analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly increased birth weight and length, independent of dosage and whether vitamin D was administered daily or in single/intermittent high dosages. Head circumference was increased in a non-dose dependent way with daily but not with single/intermittent vitamin D supplementation. Effects on all three parameters were seen when vitamin D was supplemented alone, but not in combination with other nutrients. Both, risk of LBW and SGA, were also significantly reduced with vitamin D supplementation.
Abstract
During pregnancy, vitamin D supplementation may be a feasible strategy to help prevent low birthweight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) births. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is inconclusive, probably due to heterogeneity in study design and type of intervention. A systematic literature search in the PubMed-Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was carried out to evaluate the effects of oral vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on birthweight, birth length, head circumference, LBW, and SGA. The fixed-effects or random-effects models were used to calculate mean difference (MD), risk ratio (RR), and 95% Confidence Interval (CI). On a total of 13 RCTs, maternal vitamin D supplementation had a positive effect on birthweight (12 RCTs; MD = 103.17 g, 95% CI 62.29⁻144.04 g), length (6 RCTs; MD = 0.22 cm, 95% CI 0.11⁻0.33 cm), and head circumference (6 RCTs; MD:0.19 cm, 95% CI 0.13⁻0.24 cm). In line with these findings, we also demonstrated that maternal vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of LBW (3 RCTs; RR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.22⁻0.74) and SGA (5 RCTS; RR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.51⁻0.92). The present systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed the well-established effect of maternal vitamin D supplementation on birth size. However, further research is required to better define risks and benefits associated with such interventions and the potential implications for public health.
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Association between Dietary Phenolic Acids and Hypertension in a Mediterranean Cohort.
Godos, J, Sinatra, D, Blanco, I, Mulè, S, La Verde, M, Marranzano, M
Nutrients. 2017;(10)
Abstract
BACKGROUND Certain foods rich in phenolic acids have been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension, but evidence from epidemiological studies focused on dietary phenolic acid intake is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the association between dietary phenolic acid intake, as well as their major food sources, and hypertension in a Mediterranean cohort. METHODS Demographic and dietary data of 2044 adults living in Southern Italy were collected. Food frequency questionnaires and Phenol-Explorer were used to calculate dietary intake of polyphenols. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to test associations. RESULTS The mean intake of total phenolic acids in the cohort was 362.6 mg/day. Individuals in the highest quartile of phenolic acid intake (median intake = 522.2 mg/day) were less likely to have hypertension (OR (odds ratio) = 0.68, 95% CI (confidence interval): 0.46, 1.00). When taking into account individual subclasses of phenolic acids, only hydroxyphenylacetic acid was inversely associated with hypertension (highest vs. lowest quartile, OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.96). Among dietary sources of phenolic acids considered in the analysis, only beer was significantly inversely associated with hypertension (highest vs. lowest quartile, OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.68). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study suggest that dietary phenolic acids may be inversely associated with hypertension, irrespectively of their dietary source.
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Effect of one year of a gluten-free diet on the clinical evolution of irritable bowel syndrome plus fibromyalgia in patients with associated lymphocytic enteritis: a case-control study.
Rodrigo, L, Blanco, I, Bobes, J, de Serres, FJ
Arthritis research & therapy. 2014;(4):421
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lymphocytic enteritis (LE) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are three common disorders. Since a gluten-free diet (GFD) has been shown to be helpful in LE, we aimed to assess its effect in a series of LE patients also diagnosed with IBS and FMS. METHODS The study sample comprised 97 IBS plus FMS adult females, of whom 58 had LE (Marsh stage 1), and 39 had a normal duodenal biopsy (Marsh stage 0). All patients fulfilled the Rome III and American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria. All participants followed a GFD, the effectiveness of which was assessed by changes in the results of several tests, including those of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), tender points (TPs), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for gastrointestinal complaints, pain and fatigue. RESULTS At baseline, all patients had a poor quality of life (QoL) and high VAS scores. After one year on a GFD, all outcome measures were somewhat better in the Marsh stage 1 group, with a mean decrease of 26 to 29% in the TPs, FIQ, HAQ and VAS scales, accompanied by an increase of 27% in the SF-36 physical and mental component scores. However, in the IBS plus FMS/Marsh stage 0 group, the GFD had almost no effect. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study shows that a GFD in the LE-related IBS/FMS subgroup of patients can produce a slight but significant improvement in all symptoms. Our findings suggest that further studies of this subject are warranted.