Dietary intake of choline and neural tube defects in Mexican Americans.

Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol

College of Health Professions and Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, Texas.

Published: June 2014

AI Article Synopsis

  • Low maternal intake of choline and betaine may increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs).
  • This study analyzed the dietary habits of 409 Mexican-American women who gave birth between 1995 and 2000 in Texas.
  • Results indicated a potential protective effect of higher choline and betaine intake against NTDs, particularly with betaine showing stronger associations in reducing risk.

Article Abstract

Background: Low maternal intake of dietary choline and betaine (a choline derivative) has recently been investigated as a possible risk factor for neural tube defects (NTDs).

Methods: This case-control study examined the NTD risk associated with choline and betaine in 409 Mexican-American women who gave birth during 1995 to 2000 in the 14-county border region of Texas.

Results: Using data from the food frequency questionnaire and the lowest quartiles of intake as the reference categories, a protective association was suggested between higher intakes of choline and betaine and NTD risk although the 95% confidence intervals for all risk estimates included 1.0. For choline intake in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, adjusted odds ratios were 1.2, 0.80, and 0.89, respectively. Betaine appeared more protective with odds ratios of 0.62, 0.73, and 0.61, respectively, for the second, third, and fourth quartiles of intake.

Conclusion: Study findings suggest that dietary betaine may help to prevent NTDs.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bdra.23236DOI Listing

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