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Maternal intake of vitamin D, E and zinc reduces risk for childhood wheeze

Women who consumed vitamin D, vitamin E and zinc while pregnant reduced the odds of their child developing wheeze, according to a meta-analysis study.

However the results appeared inconclusive for an effect on asthma as well as other atopic conditions, according to the researchers.

Andrea A. Beckhaus, MD, of the school of medicine at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis to determine an association between nutrition ingestion during pregnancy and asthma, wheeze or other atopic conditions in children.

The analysis included 32 studies in which researchers had previously collected data on vitamins, oligo-elements, food groups and dietary patterns used by women while pregnant.

Intake of vitamin D (OR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.88), vitamin E (OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.46-0.78) as well as zinc (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.4-0.97) all reduced the risk for wheeze during childhood.

Disclosure: Please see the full study for a list of relevant financial disclosures.