Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Pregnancy diet linked to lower odds of babies having both colic and eczema
Researchers studied 1,324 mother-baby pairs in eastern Massachusetts to see whether a mother’s diet during pregnancy was linked to colic or eczema in her baby.
Colic involves long bouts of crying that are hard to soothe, while eczema causes dry, itchy, inflamed skin.
About six months after birth, 61 babies had both conditions, while most had neither.
Each extra point on a Mediterranean-style diet score was linked to about 15% lower odds of a baby having both conditions.
The researchers found no clear link between diet and colic or eczema on its own, and they suspect the combination may be a distinct, allergy-related form of colic.
Because the study recorded what mothers ate rather than assigning diets, it cannot show that diet caused the difference.
The findings may help researchers understand why some babies develop both conditions, which can occur alongside cow’s-milk protein allergy.
A study of 1,324 mother-baby pairs found that a healthier Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy was linked to lower odds of babies having both colic and eczema.
Each extra point on the diet score was linked to about 15% lower odds of both conditions.
Diet quality showed no clear link to colic or eczema on its own.
The researchers said the results show an association and cannot prove that the diet caused the difference.
Only 61 babies in the study had both conditions.
- Who
- Researchers analyzed 1,324 mothers and babies from Project Viva.
- What
- The study found a link between mothers’ pregnancy diets and babies having both colic and eczema.
- When
- Mothers joined the study between April 1999 and November 2002; their babies were assessed at about six months old.
- Where
- The study enrolled pregnant women at clinics in eastern Massachusetts.
- Why
- Researchers examined whether diet during pregnancy was associated with colic and eczema occurring together.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pregnant women joined Project Viva early in their pregnancies.
Mothers completed detailed food questionnaires.
Mothers completed another food questionnaire.
Mothers answered questions about whether their babies had colic or had been diagnosed with eczema.
- Study participants
- 1,324 mother-baby pairs
- Babies with neither condition
- 838
- Babies with colic only
- 273
- Babies with eczema only
- 152
- Babies with both conditions
- 61
- Mediterranean-style diet score
- Each extra point was linked to about 15% lower odds of both conditions
What people are saying
Our new study is the first to ask how prenatal diet may influence colic, and in particular the combination of colic and eczema
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