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Background: We explored change in child appetitive traits from 5 to 9–11 years old and examined associations between appetitive traits at both timepoints and child diet quality. Methods: This is secondary analyses of the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study, including mother-child dyads from the 5 and 9–11-year old follow-up. The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire measured child appetitive traits, with 167 children having matched data for both timepoints. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) measured diet quality. Linear mixed models and multiple linear regression were completed. Results: Mean (SD) score for 'Emotional Overeating' (1.63 (0.51) vs. 1.99 (0.57), p = <0.001) and 'Enjoyment of Food' (3.79 (0.72) vs. 3.98 (0.66), p = <0.001) increased from 5 to 9–11 years. Mean score for 'Desire to Drink' (2.63 (0.94) vs. 2.45 (0.85), p = 0.01), 'Satiety Responsiveness (3.07 (0.66) vs. 2.71 (0.66), p = <0.001), 'Slowness Eating' (3.02 (0.77) vs. 2.64 (0.78), p = <0.001), and 'Food Fussiness' (3.00 (1.04) vs. 2.81 (0.96), p = 0.001) decreased. At 5-years-old, 'Food Responsiveness' and 'Enjoyment of Food' were positively associated with HEI and 'Desire to Drink', 'Satiety Responsiveness' and 'Food Fussiness' were negatively associated with HEI. At 9–11-years, 'Enjoyment of Food' was positively and 'Desire to Drink' and 'Food 'Fussiness' were negatively associated with HEI. Conclusions: Food approach appetitive traits increased over time, whereas food avoidant appetitive traits tended to decrease. At both time points 'Food Fussiness' and 'Desire to Drink" were inversely associated with HEI. Further research on how appetitive traits track over childhood and how this relates to dietary quality and weight is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) are advised to adapt a low glycaemic index (GI) diet, which may impact consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS). LCS are increasingly popular as they add sweetness without contributing calories. This study aims to investigate the reported intakes of LCS-containing foods in women during pregnancy.Subjects/methods: Pregnant women recruited for the ROLO study were included in this analysis (n = 571). Women were randomised to receive either an intervention of low-GI dietary advice or usual antenatal care. Women completed a 3-day food diary in each trimester. Nine LCS-containing food groups were identified, and the quantity (g/day) consumed was calculated.Results: One-third of all pregnant women consumed LCS across each trimester of pregnancy. Of those in the intervention group who were LCS consumers in trimester 1, 71.6% were consumers in trimester 2, and 54.1% remained consumers in trimester 3. In the control group, less women remained consumers in trimester 2 and 3 at 58.1% and 41.9%, respectively. In trimester 2, following the dietary intervention, the proportion of LCS consumers in the intervention group was significantly higher than the proportion of consumers who were in the control group (p < 0.001). The most commonly consumed food groups were low-calorie fruit drinks, diet-cola drinks, and low-calorie yoghurts.Conclusions: One-third of pregnant women consumed LCS. The proportion of LCS consumers increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. Further research is needed to determine exposure levels to individual LCS, and the effect of prenatal exposure to LCS on maternal and child health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child eating behaviours can negatively contribute to the development of childhood obesity. This study investigated associations between breastfeeding habits, maternal eating behaviours and child eating behaviours, in 5-year-old children.Methods: Secundigravida women were recruited to the ROLO dietary randomised controlled trial (Dublin, Ireland) and were followed up with their children to 5 years of age. Breastfeeding exposure and duration were obtained at postnatal and infant follow-up at 2 and 6 months and 2 and 5 years. At 5 years, maternal and child eating behaviours were measured using the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, respectively. Regression determined associations between breastfeeding habits and maternal eating behaviours with child eating behaviours, controlling for RCT group, maternal education level, maternal BMI at 5 years, childcare exposure and child BMI centile at 5-year follow-up.Results: There were 230 mother and child pairs analysed. One hundred and fifty-eight mothers had initiated breastfeeding. Median breastfeeding duration was 22 (IQR 33) weeks. Children who were never breastfed were more likely to express a desire to drink (B = -1.01, p = 0.022). Longer breastfeeding duration was associated with lower food responsiveness (B = -1.71, p = 0.003). Maternal uncontrolled eating was positively associated with child food responsiveness, emotional overeating and emotional undereating (B = 0.21, p < 0.001; B = 0.14, p = 0.005; B = 0.14, p = 0.005, respectively). Maternal emotional eating was associated with child emotional overeating and undereating (B = 0.27, p < 0.001, B = 0.29, p = 0.004, respectively).Conclusion: Not breastfeeding and short breastfeeding duration may contribute to the development of obesogenic eating behaviours in children, alongside maternal eating behaviours including uncontrolled and emotional eating. These 'food approach' eating behaviours may increase risk of overweight/obesity as they are associated with increased energy intake, hence the importance of research surrounding eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrient intakes are known to be poorer among pregnant women with raised body mass index (BMI) than those with a healthy BMI. While meal patterns have the potential to influence obstetric, metabolic and anthropometric measures for mother and infant, limited data exists regarding meal patterns among pregnant women with raised BMI. Aim: To identify categories of meal patterns among pregnant women with overweight and obesity and determine whether patterns change with advancing gestation. To determine if maternal meal patterns are associated with dietary intakes and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Prospective, observational analysis of pregnant women (n = 143) (BMI 25–39.9 kg/m2). Meal pattern data were analysed from 3-day food diaries at 16 and 28 weeks' gestation. Outcomes include maternal blood glucose, insulin resistance, gestational diabetes, gestational weight gain and infant anthropometry. Results: Three meal pattern categories were identified: 'main meal dominant' (3 main eating occasions + 0–3 snacks), 'large meal dominant' (≤ 2 main eating occasions + < 2 snacks), and 'snack dominant' (3 main eating occasions + > 3 snacks and ≤ 2 main + ≥ 2 snacks). A main meal–dominant pattern prevailed at 16 weeks' (85.3%) and a snack-dominant pattern at 28 weeks' (68.5%). Dietary glycaemic index was lower among the main meal versus large meal–dominant pattern at 28 weeks (P = 0.018). Infant birth weight (kg) and macrosomia were highest among participants with a large meal–dominant pattern at 28 weeks (P = 0.030 and P = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: Women with raised BMI changed eating patterns as pregnancy progressed, moving from main meal–dominant to snack-dominant patterns. Large meal–dominant meal patterns in later pregnancy were associated with higher glycaemic index and greater prevalence of macrosomia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D status may play a role in the development of atopic diseases due to its action on lung development and immune system development and function. Aims: Our objective was to assess whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in maternal blood in pregnancy were associated with atopy in children. Methods: We analysed 279 mother-child pairs from the ROLO study conducted in Dublin, Ireland. Serum 25OHD was measured at 13 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Development of childhood atopy was self-reported by mothers at follow-up appointments at 6 months, 2 years or 5 years. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between maternal 25OHD status and development of atopy. Results: The mean (SD) 25OHD levels in early and late pregnancy were 41.9 (19.2) nmol/L and 40.2 (21.6) nmol/L, respectively. Maternal 25OHD status in early pregnancy, but not in late pregnancy, was associated with a reduced risk of atopy at 2 years (OR 0.972, CI 0.946–0.999). In early pregnancy, those with serum 25OHD levels < 30 nmol/L compared with those with 25OHD > 50 nmol/L had significantly greater risk of developing atopy at 2 years (OR 4.76, CI 1.38–16.47). Conclusions: The development of childhood atopy may be associated with maternal vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy among a cohort of women at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Further research is required to explore the relationship between vitamin D and atopy, particularly among women with poor vitamin D status, and whether supplementation should be prioritised in early pregnancy to reduce childhood atopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrauterine environment can have a significant impact on fetal and maternal well-being, both during pregnancy and in later life. We aimed to identify how fetal sex and maternal body mass index (BMI) influence insulin resistance and metabolic function during pregnancy with maternal BMI > 25 kg/m2. This secondary analysis assessed data from the PEARS–randomized controlled trial that recruited pregnant women with body mass indexes 25–39.9 kg/m2. Longitudinal measurements of maternal and fetal insulin resistance and metabolic function were recorded throughout pregnancy. Regression models tested the effects of fetal sex and maternal BMI on markers of metabolic function and insulin regulation. A total of 484 women and their newborns (252 (52%) males vs. 232 (48%) females) were included in the analysis. A total of 333 (69%) women were overweight and 151 (31%) were obese. Male newborns were heavier and larger than females, and had a higher rate of instrumental delivery. Males had a lower LDL, but no other markers of insulin resistance or metabolic function were affected by fetal sex. Women with obesity had elevated markers of insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction compared with women that were overweight, but maternal BMI did not impact these variables in the fetus. Fetal sex did not impact maternal and fetal metabolic parameters in women with BMI > 25 kg/m2. However, a higher BMI caused increasingly deranged maternal blood lipid concentrations and markers of insulin resistance as pregnancy progressed. Lipid monitoring and interventions to reduce lipids during pregnancy therefore require further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone health is extremely important in early childhood because children with low bone mineral density (BMD) are at a greater risk of bone fractures. While physical activity and intake of both calcium and vitamin D benefit BMD in older children, there is limited research on the determinants of good bone health in early childhood. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the impact of diet, physical activity, and body composition on BMD at five years of age. Dietary intakes and physical activity levels were measured through questionnaires. Whole body BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 102 children. Child weight, height, circumferences, skinfolds and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations were assessed. There was no association between BMD and dietary calcium, dietary vitamin D, 25OHD, physical activity, or sedentary behaviour. Several measures of body composition were significantly positively associated with BMD; however, neither fat mass nor lean body mass was associated with BMD.Conclusion: Although we found no association between self-reported dietary and lifestyle factors and bone health in early years, increased body size was linked with higher BMD. These findings are important as identifying modifiable factors that can improve bone health at a young age is of utmost importance.What is Known:• Bone health is extremely important in early childhood, as children with low bone mineral density (BMD) are at greater risk of bone fractures.• Physical activity has been found to be beneficial for bone health in adolescents, and body composition has also been associated with BMD in teenage years.• Limited research on the determinants of good bone health in early childhood.What is New:• No association between self-reported lifestyle and dietary factors with bone health in early childhood.• Increased body size was associated with higher BMD at five years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pregnancy is characterised by increased bone turnover, but high bone turnover with resorption exceeding formation may lead to negative maternal bone remodelling. Recent studies are conflicting regarding the effect of calcium on skeletal health in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal effect of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and dietary calcium on a marker of bone resorption.Methods: This was prospective study of 205 pregnant women [two cohorts; early pregnancy at 13 weeks (n = 96), and late pregnancy at 28 weeks (n = 109)]. Serum 25OHD and urine cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (uNTX) were measured at both time points. Intakes of vitamin D and calcium were recorded using 3-day food diaries at each trimester.Results: Compared to summer pregnancies, winter pregnancies had significantly lower 25OHD and significantly higher uNTX. Higher calcium intakes were negatively correlated with uNTX in winter, but not summer. In late pregnancy, compared to those reporting calcium intakes ≥1000 mg/day, intakes of <1000 mg/day were associated with a greater increase in uNTX in winter pregnancies than in summer (41.8 vs. 0.9%). Increasing calcium intake in winter by 200 mg/day predicted a 13.3% reduction in late pregnancy uNTX.Conclusions: In late pregnancy, during winter months when 25OHD is inadequate, intakes of dietary calcium <1000 mg/day were associated with significantly increased bone resorption (uNTX). Additional dietary calcium is associated with reduced bone resorption in late pregnancy, with greater effect observed in winter. Further research regarding optimal dietary calcium and 25OHD in pregnancy is required, particularly for women gestating through winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]