Impact of metabolism-disrupting chemicals and folic acid supplementation on liver injury and steatosis in mother-child pairs.

Background And Aims: Scarce knowledge about the impact of metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) on steatotic liver disease limits opportunities for intervention. We evaluated pregnancy MDC-mixture associations with liver outcomes, and effect modification by folic acid (FA) supplementation in mother-child pairs.

Methods: We studied ∼200 mother-child pairs from the Mexican PROGRESS cohort, with measured 43 MDCs during pregnancy (estimated air pollutants, blood/urine metals or metalloids, urine high- and low-molecular-weight phthalate [HMWPs, LMWPs] and organophosphate-pesticide [OP] metabolites), and serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) at ∼9 years post-parturition.

Concordance Between DASH Diet and Coronary Artery Calcification: Results From the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: South Asian adults are at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, for which coronary artery calcification is an early predictor. Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet is a modifiable risk factor that may mitigate the progression of coronary artery calcification and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Using data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America cohort, the authors calculated a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension dietary score (categorized as low, moderate, and high) to examine the associations of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet adherence with coronary artery calcification after a 5-year follow up.

Food Records Show Daily Variation in Diet during Pregnancy: Results from the Temporal Research in Eating, Nutrition, and Diet during Pregnancy Study.

Background: Diet is critical for pregnant individuals and their offspring, but insight into diet during pregnancy mainly comes from questionnaires and recalls.

Objectives: To obtain detailed real-time dietary data during pregnancy to evaluate intra- and interindividual variation in intakes.

Methods: Pregnant individuals were recruited from a New York City health system December 2020-June 2023.

Mental health outcomes across the reproductive life course among women with disabilities: a systematic review.

Purpose: This systematic review examined literature on mental health outcomes among women with disabilities living in high-income countries within the context of reproductive health, spanning menstruation through menopause.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases for studies published through June 2023. Eligible studies were observational, quantitative, and included a comparison group without disabilities.

Metabolism-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures during Pregnancy, Folic Acid Supplementation, and Liver Injury in Mother-Child Pairs.

Background And Aims: Scarce knowledge about the impact of metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) on liver injury limits opportunities for intervention. We evaluated pregnancy MDC-mixture associations with liver injury and effect modification by folic acid (FA) supplementation in mother-child pairs.

Methods: We studied ∼200 mother-child pairs from the Mexican PROGRESS cohort, with measured 43 MDCs during pregnancy (estimated air pollutants, blood/urine metals or metalloids, urine high- and low-molecular-weight phthalate [HMWPs, LMWPs] and organophosphate-pesticide [OP] metabolites), and serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) at ∼9 years post-parturition.

Ultra-processed food intake among South Asians in the United States: Specific vulnerabilities of a growing immigrant population group.

South Asians are among the fastest growing immigrant population groups in the United States. Their traditional diets are rich in minimally processed fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and spices. However, the proliferation of ultra-processed foods (highly processed, industrially manufactured formulations) around the globe may compromise the nutrition profile of South Asians, threatening to increase their risk of noncommunicable diseases.

Concordance between Dash Diet and Hypertension: Results from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study.

High blood pressure is an important predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), particularly among South Asians, who are at higher risk for ASCVD when compared to other population groups. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern is established as the best proven nonpharmacological approach to preventing hypertension in adults. Using data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) cohort, we calculated a DASH dietary score to examine the association between adherence to the DASH diet and its components, and prevalent and incident hypertension and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, after five years of follow-up.

Socioeconomic Characteristics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Health Conditions Among Males of Reproductive Age With and Without Disabilities, NHANES 2013-2018.

Health status during the reproductive years influences fecundity, fertility, and the future health of males and their offspring. There remains a dearth of literature examining men's preconception health, especially among high-risk populations, such as those with disabilities. The objective of this study was to examine indicators of preconception health, including chronic medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, and health care utilization, among males of reproductive age with and without disabilities in the United States.

Diet quality, diet-related factors and disability status among male adults of reproductive age in the USA.

Objective: To examine diet quality and diet-related factors among male adults of reproductive age with and without disabilities.

Design: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018.

Setting: Disability was reported as serious difficulty hearing, seeing, concentrating, walking, dressing and/or running errands due to physical, mental or emotional conditions.

Clinical interventions to increase vegetable intake in children.

Purpose Of Review: Eating behaviors and dietary patterns begin in early childhood and persist into adolescence and adulthood, affecting lifelong acute and chronic disease risk. Vegetables provide a high density of necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Dietary intake data show that children of all ages consume below the recommended range for vegetables.

Weight gain trajectories patterns from pregnancy to early postpartum: identifying women at risk and timing to prevent weight regain.

Background: Woman's weight changes during pregnancy and postpartum contribute to obesity and health outcomes later in life. This study aimed to identify and characterize weight change trajectories from pregnancy to one year postpartum among adult women.

Methods: We used data from an ongoing cohort of healthy adult women (n = 819) with singleton pregnancies from 2007 - 2011.

Ultra-processed Foods and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes: from Evidence to Practice.

Purpose Of Review: Poor diet quality is the leading risk factor related to the overall cardiometabolic disease burden in the USA and globally. We review the current evidence linking ultra-processed foods and cardiometabolic health risk and provide recommendations for action at the clinical and public health levels.

Recent Findings: A growing body of evidence conducted in a variety of study populations supports an association between ultra-processed food intake and increased risk of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity trajectories, and cardiovascular disease.

Dietary Quality and Diet-Related Factors Among Female Adults of Reproductive Age With and Without Disabilities Participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018.

Background: Female adults of reproductive age (18 to 44 years) with disabilities have higher rates of health-risk behaviors and chronic conditions compared with their counterparts without disabilities; however, there is limited examination of diet.

Objective: Our aim was to examine associations of self-reported disability status with diet quality and diet-related factors.

Design: Cross-sectional data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018.

Personal Care and Household Cleaning Product Use among Pregnant Women and New Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study examined product use among pregnant women and new mothers in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2020-June 2021). Women reported use of personal care and household cleaning products within the previous month, changes in antibacterial product use, receipt of healthcare provider advice, and opinions on environmental chemicals (n = 320). On average, women used 15 personal care products and 7 household cleaning products.

Prenatal phthalates, gestational weight gain, and long-term weight changes among Mexican women.

Background: Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that may influence weight status; however, few studies have considered weight gain during pregnancy and subsequent long-term weight changes in women.

Objective: To determine associations of prenatal phthalate exposure with maternal weight during pregnancy and through up to seven years post-delivery.

Methods: We analyzed 15 urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters among 874 pregnant women enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth Environment and Social Stress Study in Mexico City.

Preconception Health and Disability Status Among Women of Reproductive Age Participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018.

Preconception health is a critical determinant of health outcomes for women and their offspring. Given higher rates of prenatal and postpartum complications among women with disabilities, it is important to investigate a range of preconception health indicators in this population. Data were from women of reproductive age (18-44 years) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018.

Maternal Phthalates Exposure and Blood Pressure during and after Pregnancy in the PROGRESS Study.

Background: Phthalate exposure is ubiquitous and may affect biological pathways related to regulators of blood pressure. Given the profound changes in vasculature during pregnancy, pregnant women may be particularly susceptible to the potential effects of phthalates on blood pressure.

Objectives: We examined associations of phthalate exposure during pregnancy with maternal blood pressure trajectories from mid-pregnancy through 72 months postpartum.

Food Insecurity, Associated Health Behaviors, and Academic Performance Among Urban University Undergraduate Students.

Objective: To explore associations between food insecurity, health behaviors, and academic performance among undergraduates at a private, urban US university.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among a convenience sample of New York University undergraduates. Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations of food security (using the 6-item US Household Food Security Survey Module) and health behaviors (fruit/vegetable, beverage and alcohol intakes, and sleep), self-rated health, and academic performance.

Prenatal maternal phthalate exposures and trajectories of childhood adiposity from four to twelve years.

Background/aim: Adiposity trajectories reflect dynamic process of growth and may predict later life health better than individual measures. Prenatal phthalate exposures may program later childhood adiposity, but findings from studies examining these associations are conflicting. We investigated associations between phthalate biomarker concentrations during pregnancy with child adiposity trajectories.

Pregnancy-related outcomes among women with physical disabilities: A systematic review.

Background: Disability among women of reproductive age is common; many of these women desire children and do not have impaired fertility.

Objectives: To examine the epidemiological literature on perinatal health outcomes among women with physical disabilities.

Data Sources: We searched Medline and CINAHL for articles published January 2009-April 2020 following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Prenatal urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and behavioral problems in Mexican children: The Programming Research in Obesity, Growth Environment and Social Stress (PROGRESS) study.

Background: Phthalate exposure has been associated with increased childhood behavioral problems. Existing studies failed to include phthalate replacements and did not account for high correlations among phthalates. Phthalates' exposure is higher in Mexico than in U.

The associations of phthalate biomarkers during pregnancy with later glycemia and lipid profiles.

Background: Pregnancy induces numerous cardiovascular and metabolic changes. Alterations in these sensitive processes may precipitate long-term post-delivery health consequences. Studies have reported associations between phthalates and metabolic complications of pregnancy, but no study has investigated metabolic outcomes beyond pregnancy.

Ultra-Processed Foods and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Background: Ultra-processed foods provide 58% of total energy in the U.S. diet, yet their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains understudied.