Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with DNA methylation in early adolescence: A sibling comparison design.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) may impact offspring biological (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid methylation [DNAm]) and behavioral (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder hyperactive/impulsive [ADHD-HI] symptoms) development. There has been consistency in findings of differential methylation in global DNAm, and the specific genes AHRR, CYP1A1, CNTNAP2, MYO1G, and GFI1 in relation to MSDP. The current study aims to (a) replicate the associations of MSDP and DNAm in prior literature in middle childhood-adolescence (cross-sectionally) using a sibling-comparison design where siblings were discordant for MSDP (n = 328 families; Mage Sibling 1 = 13.02; Sibling 2 = 10.20), adjusting for prenatal and postnatal covariates in order to isolate the MSDP exposure on DNAm. We also (b) cross-sectionally explored the role of DNAm in the most robust MSDP-ADHD associations (i.e., with ADHD-HI) previously found in this sample. We quantified smoking exposure severity for each sibling reflecting time and quantity of MSDP, centered relative to the sibling pair's average (i.e., within-family centered, indicating child-specific effects attributable MSDP exposure) and controlling for the sibling average MSDP (i.e., between-family component, indicating familial confounding related to MSDP). We found that child-specific MSDP was associated with global DNAm, and CNTNAP2, CYP1A1, and MYO1G methylation after covariate adjustment, corroborating emerging evidence for a potentially causal pathway between MSDP and DNAm. There was some evidence that child-specific CNTNAP2 and MYO1G methylation partially explained associations between MSDP and ADHD-HI symptoms, though only on one measure (of two). Future studies focused on replication of these findings in a longitudinal genetic design could further solidify the associations found in the current study. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The association of prenatal phthalates, organophosphorous pesticides, and organophosphate esters with early child language ability in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to phthalates, organophosphate esters, and organophosphorous pesticides have been associated with neurodevelopmental deficits including language ability, however, few studies consider the effect of exposure mixtures and the potential longitudinal detriments over time. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the influence of prenatal exposure to phthalates, organophosphate esters, and organophosphorous pesticides, on children's language ability from toddlerhood to the preschool period. METHODS: This study includes 299 mother-child dyads from Norway in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Prenatal exposure to chemicals were assessed at 17 weeks' gestation, and child language skills were assessed at 18 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire communication subscale and at preschool age using the Child Development Inventory. We ran two structural equation models to examine the simultaneous influences of chemical exposures on parent-reported and teacher-reported child language ability. RESULTS: Prenatal organophosphorous pesticides were negatively associated with preschool language ability through language ability at 18 months. Additionally, there was a negative association between low molecular weight phthalates and teacher-reported preschool language ability. There was no effect of prenatal organophosphate esters on child language ability at either 18 months or preschool age. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the literature on prenatal exposure to chemicals and neurodevelopment and highlights the importance of developmental pathways in early childhood.

Organophosphorus Pesticide Exposure at 17 Weeks' Gestation and Odds of Offspring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study.

Prenatal organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are ubiquitous and have been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, few studies have examined prenatal OPs in relation to diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with only two studies exploring this relationship in a population primarily exposed through diet. In this study, we used a nested case-control study to evaluate prenatal OP exposure and ADHD diagnosis in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). For births that occurred between 2003 and 2008, ADHD diagnoses were obtained from linkage of MoBa participants with the Norwegian Patient Registry (N = 297), and a reference population was randomly selected from the eligible population (N = 552). Maternal urine samples were collected at 17 weeks' gestation and molar sums of diethyl phosphates (ΣDEP) and dimethyl phosphates metabolites (ΣDMP) were calculated. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between prenatal OP metabolite exposure and child ADHD diagnosis. Additionally, multiplicative effect measure modification (EMM) by child sex was assessed. In most cases, mothers in the second and third tertiles of ΣDMP and ΣDEP exposure had slightly lower odds of having a child with ADHD, although confidence intervals were wide and included the null. EMM by child sex was not observed for either ΣDMP or ΣDEP. In summary, we did not find evidence that OPs at 17 weeks' gestation increased the odds of ADHD in this nested case-control study of ADHD in MoBa, a population primarily experiencing dietary exposure.

Psychopathology Symptoms are Associated with Prenatal Health Practices in Pregnant Women with Heavy Smoking Levels.

PURPOSE: Smoking during pregnancy may be linked to other problematic prenatal health behaviors in women. We examined interrelationships among prenatal smoking, prenatal health behaviors and mental health. The objective of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to variations in prenatal health practices among women who smoke during pregnancy. METHODS: Birth mothers from an adoption study (N = 912) were interviewed about prenatal smoking, health behaviors, and mental health symptoms at 5 months postpartum. RESULTS: One-quarter of participants (N = 222) reported smoking 6 or more cigarettes daily for at least 1 trimester. For mothers who smoked more than 6 cigarettes daily, higher levels of antisocial behaviors (ß = - .14, p = .03) and depressive symptoms (ß = - .17, p = .03) were associated with less frequent prenatal folate use; antisocial behaviors and depressive symptoms were not associated for prenatal folate use among women who did not smoke more than 6 cigarettes daily. For mothers who did not smoke more than 6 cigarettes daily, more depressive symptoms were associated with fewer prenatal care visits (ß = .12, p = .01). Antisocial behaviors and anxiety symptoms were not associated with prenatal care visits in either group of mothers. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Maternal antisocial behaviors and depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be markers for poorer adherence to recommendations for folate supplementation among women who smoke 6 or more cigarettes daily during pregnancy, independent of adequacy of prenatal care.

Maternal Consistency in Recalling Prenatal Experiences at 6 Months and 8 Years Postnatal.

OBJECTIVE: Mothers are known to be reliable reporters of smoking during pregnancy, type of delivery, and birth weight when compared with medical records. Few studies have considered whether the timing of retrospective collection affects the mother's retrospective self-report. We examined the consistency of maternal retrospective recall of prenatal experiences, behaviors, and basic birth outcomes between 6 months and 8 years postpartum. METHOD: We examined 117 mothers (62% White, 44% living in a committed relationship, median high school education) from the Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS). EGDS is a longitudinal adoption study that includes birth mothers of children born between 2003 and 2009 who were involved in a domestic adoption. Using the modified life history calendar and a pregnancy screener, mothers reported on their prenatal health behaviors, prenatal substance use, and labor and delivery at 6 months and 8 years postpartum. Cohen κ was calculated to examine consistency, and χ tests were used to test differences by parity and maternal education. RESULTS: Mothers' recall was very good for recall of the type of delivery and good for smoking during pregnancy, medicine used for labor induction, and specific medical problems (i.e., pre-eclampsia, sexually transmitted infections, and kidney infections). Recall consistency was poor for illicit drug use, specific prenatal tests performed (i.e., amniocentesis and emergency room visits), and using drugs other than an epidural during delivery. CONCLUSION: This study provides support for using retrospective collection of maternal self-report on some prenatal experiences up to 8 years postpartum and offers a potential way to more accurately collect self-reported prenatal experiences.