Masashi Arakawa

Intake of dairy products and calcium and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

To examine the relationship between the intake of dairy products and calcium and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Higher vitamin D intake during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of dental caries in young Japanese children

PURPOSEnThe intrauterine environment, including maternal nutrition status, may affect the development, formation, and mineralization of childrens teeth. We assessed the relationship between self-reported maternal dietary vitamin D intake during pregnancy and the risk of dental caries among young Japanese children.nnnMETHODSnThis study is based on a prospective analysis of 1210 Japanese mother-child pairs. Information on maternal intake during pregnancy was collected using a validated diet history questionnaire. Data on oral examination at 36-46xa0months of age were obtained from the mothers, who transcribed the information from their maternal and child health handbooks to our self-administered questionnaire. Children were classified as having dental caries if one or more primary teeth had decayed or had been filled.nnnRESULTSnCompared with the lowest quartile of maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 were 1.06 (0.72-1.56), 0.53 (0.34-0.81), and 0.67 (0.44-1.02), respectively (P for trendxa0=xa0.01). When maternal vitamin D intake was treated as a continuous variable, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.94 (0.89-0.995).nnnCONCLUSIONSnHigher maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of dental caries in children.

Soy isoflavone intake and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

ObjectiveSeveral observational studies and trials examined the relationship between isoflavones or soybeans and depressive symptoms among peri- and postmenopausal women. We cross-sectionally evaluated the associations between intake of soy products and isoflavones and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan.MethodsStudy subjects were 1745 pregnant women. Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined by a score of 16 or over in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.ResultsHigher intake of total soy products, tofu, tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, miso soup, and isoflavones was independently related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: The adjusted prevalence ratios (95xa0% confidence intervals, P for trend) between extreme quartiles were 0.63 (0.47–0.85, 0.002), 0.72 (0.54–0.96, 0.007), 0.74 (0.56–0.98, 0.04), 0.57 (0.42–0.76, <0.0001), 0.73 (0.55–0.98, 0.03), 0.65 (0.49–0.87, 0.003), and 0.63 (0.46–0.86, 0.002), respectively. A significant positive exposure–response relationship was found between miso intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. No material relationship was observed between soymilk intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.ConclusionsOur study is the first to show independent inverse relationships between intake of total soy products, tofu, tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, miso soup, and isoflavones and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Milk intake during pregnancy is inversely associated with the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms in Japan: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

Only one epidemiologic study has investigated the association between dairy product intake during pregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms. Epidemiologic evidence on the relationships between calcium and vitamin D intake during pregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms is also lacking. The present prospective study examined these issues in Japan. Study subjects were 1319 women. During pregnancy, dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire in the baseline survey. Postpartum depressive symptoms were defined as present when subjects had an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 9 or higher between 3 and 4 months postpartum. Adjustment was made for age, gestation at baseline, region of residence, number of children, family structure, history of depression, family history of depression, job type, education, body mass index, having smoked during pregnancy, cesarean delivery, babys sex, babys birth weight, and total energy intake. After adjustment for the confounding factors, compared with milk intake in the lowest quartile, intake levels in the second and fourth quartiles were independently associated with a reduced risk of postpartum depressive symptoms, although the inverse exposure-response relationship was not significant: the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 0.51 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.93; P for trend = .12). No material relationships were observed between intake of total dairy products, yogurt, cheese, calcium, or vitamin D and the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms. The present prospective cohort study in Japan suggests that higher milk intake during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of postpartum depressive symptoms.

Secondhand smoke exposure and risk of wheeze in early childhood: a prospective pregnancy birth cohort study

BackgroundEvidence regarding the independent and additive effects of both pre- and postnatal smoking exposure on the risk of wheeze in children is limited. The purpose of this prospective pregnancy birth cohort study was to examine the association between prenatal and postnatal tobacco smoke exposure during the first year of life and the risk of wheeze in Japanese children aged 23 to 29xa0months.MethodsStudy subjects were 1354 Japanese mother-child pairs. Information on the variables under study was obtained using repeated questionnaires that were completed by mothers, first prior to delivery, then shortly after birth and subsequently around 4, 12, and 24xa0months after delivery. Wheeze was defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.ResultsCompared with no maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal smoking throughout pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of wheeze in children, yet there were no associations between maternal smoking in the first trimester only or in the second and/or third trimesters and the risk of wheeze. No association was observed between postnatally living with at least one household smoker and the risk of wheeze. An analysis to assess the additive effect of prenatal and postnatal smoking exposure revealed that, compared with children not exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy and not postnatally living with at least one household smoker, those who were both exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatally living with at least one household smoker had twofold odds of developing wheeze.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that maternal smoking throughout pregnancy might be associated with an increased risk of wheeze in children. There is also the possibility of a positive additive effect of pre- and postnatal smoking exposure on the risk of childhood wheeze.

Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

BackgroundEpidemiological evidence on the relationship between smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and depressive symptoms during pregnancy has been limited. The present cross-sectional study examined this issue in Japan.MethodsBetween April 2007 and March 2008, 1757 pregnant women who lived in one of seven prefectures on Kyushu Island in southern Japan or in Okinawa Prefecture, an island chain in the southwest of Japan, participated in the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, a prebirth cohort study. In the present study, data on 1745 pregnant women were available for analysis. Information on smoking, SHS exposure, depressive symptoms, and potential confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when subjects had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of 16 or higher. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, number of children, family structure, household income, education, job type, history of depression, and family history of depression.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy was 19.2%. Compared with having never smoked, both former and current smoking was independently associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 1.39 (95% CI: 1.06–1.83) and 2.49 (95% CI: 1.36–4.45), respectively. Also, 3.0 to 7.9 and 8.0 or more pack-years of smoking were independently positively related to depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted ORs were 1.55 (95% CI: 1.08–2.22) and 1.97 (95% CI: 1.26–3.03), respectively (P for trendxa0=xa00.0005). Among the 1183 subjects who had never smoked, current SHS exposure at home was independently positively associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted OR was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.003–2.30).ConclusionsFormer and current smoking, 3.0 or more pack-years of smoking, and current SHS exposure at home may be positively associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Manganese intake is inversely associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: Baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

BACKGROUNDnOne epidemiological study in Canada has addressed the association between zinc intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy while another epidemiological study in Korea has examined the association between iron intake and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The present cross-sectional study in Japan examined the association between intake of zinc, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.nnnMETHODSnStudy subjects were 1745 pregnant women. Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as a score ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, number of children, family structure, history of depression, family history of depression, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work, employment, household income, education, body mass index, and intake of saturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid, calcium, vitamin D, and isoflavones.nnnRESULTSnIn crude analysis, significant inverse associations were observed between intake levels of zinc, magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. After adjustment for confounding factors, only manganese intake was independently inversely associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted prevalence ratio between extreme quartiles was 0.74 (95% confidence interval:0.56-0.97, P for trend=0.046).nnnLIMITATIONSnInformation was obtained between the 5th and 39th week of pregnancy.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe current cross-sectional study of Japanese women demonstrated higher manganese intake to be independently associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Maternal caffeine intake in pregnancy is inversely related to childhood peer problems in Japan: The Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

Objectives: The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy and behavioral problems in Japanese children aged 5 years. Methods: Subjects were 1199 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and peer problems were assessed using the Japanese parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for maternal age, gestation at baseline, region of residence at baseline, number of children at baseline, maternal and paternal education, household income, maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy, maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, child’s birth weight, child’s sex, breastfeeding duration, and smoking in the household during the first year of life. Results: The contributors of caffeine in the diet during pregnancy were Japanese and Chinese tea (74.8%), coffee (13.0%), black tea (4.4%), confectionaries (4.0%), and soft drinks (3.7%). Higher maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy was independently associated with a reduced risk of peer problems in the children: the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy were 1 (reference), 0.61 (0.35–1.06), 0.52 (0.29–0.91), and 0.51 (0.28–0.91), respectively (P for trendu2009=u20090.01). Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy was not evidently related to the risk of emotional problems, conduct problems, or hyperactivity problems in the children. Conclusions: Maternal caffeine consumption, mainly from Japanese and Chinese tea, during pregnancy may be preventive against peer problems in Japanese children.

Maternal fat intake during pregnancy and behavioral problems in japanese children aged 5 years

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this cohort study was to investigate the relationship between maternal fat consumption during pregnancy and behavioral problems in 1199 Japanese children at age 5 y.nnnMETHODSnDietary intake of mothers during pregnancy was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, and peer problems in children were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; the four scale scores were dichotomized, comparing children with borderline and abnormal scores to children with normal scores. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for each behavioral problem according to the quartile of dietary factors under study, adjusting for potential confounding factors.nnnRESULTSnHigher maternal intake of monounsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy was independently associated with an increased risk for childhood emotional problems. The adjusted odds ratios between extreme quartiles (95% confidence intervals, Ptrend) were 1.85 (1.11u2009-u20093.17, 0.04), 1.60 (0.99u2009-u20092.60, 0.03), 2.06 (1.24u2009-u20093.46, 0.002), and 2.09 (1.26u2009-u20093.51, 0.002), respectively. No such positive associations were observed for the other outcomes. No relationships were found between maternal intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, or cholesterol, or the ratio of ω-3 to ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy and any of the outcomes.nnnCONCLUSIONSnMaternal consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk for childhood emotional problems.

Dietary patterns and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: Baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

BACKGROUNDnOnly one Brazilian study has examined the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The current cross-sectional study examined this issue in Japan.nnnMETHODSnStudy subjects were 1744 pregnant women. Between April 2007 and March 2008, information under study was obtained. Dietary patterns were derived from a factor analysis of 33 predefined food groups based on a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score ≥ 16. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, number of children, family structure, history of depression, family history of depression, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, employment, household income, education, and body mass index.nnnRESULTSnThree dietary patterns were identified: healthy, characterized by high intake of green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, mushrooms, pulses, seaweed, potatoes, fish, sea products, miso soup, sugar, and shellfish; Japanese, characterized by high intake of rice and miso soup; and Western, characterized by high intake of beef and pork, processed meat, vegetable oil, chicken, eggs, shellfish, and salt-containing seasonings. The healthy and Japanese patterns were independently inversely associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals, P for trend) between extreme quartiles were 0.56 (0.43-0.73, < 0.0001) and 0.72 (0.55-0.94, 0.008), respectively. No association was observed between the Western pattern and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.nnnLIMITATIONSnInformation was obtained between the 5th and 39th week of pregnancy.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe healthy and Japanese dietary patterns may be inversely associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy.