Self-Reported Food Security in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Association with Hemoglobin A1c and Mental Health Symptoms Independent of Household Food Security.

BACKGROUND: Typically, child exposure to food insecurity is assessed by caregiver reports of household food security. Child report has the potential for greater accuracy because it pertains only to the child whose experiences may differ from caregiver reports. OBJECTIVE: We assessed if adolescent-reported food insecurity was associated with levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), acute diabetes-related complications, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, independently from household food security. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis of the multicenter SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort Study (phase 4, 2016-2019) including 601 adolescents aged 10-17 y with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers, household food security, and adolescent-reported food security were assessed using the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module and the 6-item Child Food Security Assessment questionnaire. Age-stratified (10-13 and 14-17) regression models were performed to estimate independent associations, adjusting for sociodemographics, clinical factors, and household food security. RESULTS: Food insecurity was reported by 13.1% (n = 79) of adolescents and 15.6% (n = 94) of caregivers. Among adolescent-caregiver dyads, 82.5% (n = 496) of reports were concordant and 17.5% (n = 105) discordant, Cohen's κ= 0.3. Adolescent-reported food insecurity was not independently associated with HbA1c, diabetic ketoacidosis, and severe hypoglycemia, including in age-stratified analyses. Adolescent-reported food insecurity was independently associated with elevated odds of depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR): 3.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 10.3] and disordered eating behaviors (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4, 4.6) compared with adolescents reporting food security; these associations remained in both age groups for disordered eating behaviors and in the older group for depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes may experience food insecurity differently than caregivers. Adolescent-reported food insecurity was independently associated with depressive symptoms and disordered eating behaviors and thus may be an important attribute to assess in addition to household food security in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Properties of the Household Food Security Survey Module Scale in Young Adults with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) was not tailored to people with chronic diseases or young adults (YAs). OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate whether the 18-item HFSSM meets assumptions underlying the scale among YAs with diabetes. METHODS: Data from 1887 YAs with youth-onset type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes were used from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, 2016-2019, and on 925 who returned for the SEARCH Food Security Cohort Study, 2018-2021, all of whom had completed the HFSSM. Guttman scaling properties (affirmation of preceding less severe items) and Rasch model properties (probability to answer an item based on difficulty level) were assessed. RESULTS: Items 3 (balanced meals) and 6 (eating less than one should) were affirmed more frequently than expected (nonmonotonic response pattern). At 1.2%-3.5%, item nonresponse was rare among type 1 diabetes but higher among type 2 diabetes (range: 3.1%-10.6%). Items 9 (not eating the whole day) and 3 did not meet the Guttman scaling properties. Rasch modeling revealed that item 3 had the smallest difficulty parameter. INFIT indices suggested that some responses to item 3 did not match the pattern in the rest of the sample. Classifying household food insecurity (HFI) based on items 1 and 2 compared with other 2-item combinations, including item 3, revealed a substantial undercount of HFI ranging from 5% to 8% points. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the HFSSM among YAs with diabetes could potentially result in biased HFI reporting and affect estimates of HFI prevalence in this population.

Using Power Analysis to Choose the Unit of Randomization, Outcome, and Approach for Subgroup Analysis for a Multilevel Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Reduce Disparities in Cardiovascular Health.

We give examples of three features in the design of randomized controlled clinical trials which can increase power and thus decrease sample size and costs. We consider an example multilevel trial with several levels of clustering. For a fixed number of independent sampling units, we show that power can vary widely with the choice of the level of randomization. We demonstrate that power and interpretability can improve by testing a multivariate outcome rather than an unweighted composite outcome. Finally, we show that using a pooled analytic approach, which analyzes data for all subgroups in a single model, improves power for testing the intervention effect compared to a stratified analysis, which analyzes data for each subgroup in a separate model. The power results are computed for a proposed prevention research study. The trial plans to randomize adults to either telehealth (intervention) or in-person treatment (control) to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. The trial outcomes will be measures of the Essential Eight, a set of scores for cardiovascular health developed by the American Heart Association which can be combined into a single composite score. The proposed trial is a multilevel study, with outcomes measured on participants, participants treated by the same provider, providers nested within clinics, and clinics nested within hospitals. Investigators suspect that the intervention effect will be greater in rural participants, who live farther from clinics than urban participants. The results use published, exact analytic methods for power calculations with continuous outcomes. We provide example code for power analyses using validated software.

Maternal Diet Quality During Pregnancy and Offspring Hepatic Fat in Early Childhood: The Healthy Start Study.

BACKGROUND: Overnutrition in utero may increase offspring risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the specific contribution of maternal diet quality during pregnancy to this association remains understudied in humans. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the associations of maternal diet quality during pregnancy with offspring hepatic fat in early childhood (median: 5 y old, range: 4-8 y old). METHODS: Data were from 278 mother-child pairs in the longitudinal, Colorado-based Healthy Start Study. Multiple 24-h recalls were collected from mothers during pregnancy on a monthly basis (median: 3 recalls, range: 1-8 recalls starting after enrollment), and used to estimate maternal usual nutrient intakes and dietary pattern scores [Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), and Relative Mediterranean Diet Score (rMED)]. Offspring hepatic fat was measured in early childhood by MRI. Associations of maternal dietary predictors during pregnancy with offspring log-transformed hepatic fat were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for offspring demographics, maternal/perinatal confounders, and maternal total energy intake. RESULTS: Higher maternal fiber intake and rMED scores during pregnancy were associated with lower offspring hepatic fat in early childhood in fully adjusted models [Back-transformed ß (95% CI): 0.82 (0.72, 0.94) per 5 g/1000 kcal fiber; 0.93 (0.88, 0.99) per 1 SD for rMED]. In contrast, higher maternal total sugar and added sugar intakes, and DII scores were associated with higher offspring hepatic fat [Back-transformed ß (95% CI): 1.18 (1.05, 1.32) per 5% kcal/d added sugar; 1.08 (0.99, 1.18) per 1 SD for DII]. Analyses of dietary pattern subcomponents also revealed that lower maternal intakes of green vegetables and legumes and higher intake of "empty calories" were associated with higher offspring hepatic fat in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Poorer maternal diet quality during pregnancy was associated with greater offspring susceptibility to hepatic fat in early childhood. Our findings provide insights into potential perinatal targets for the primordial prevention of pediatric NAFLD.

Identifying Foods That Optimize Intake of Key Micronutrients During Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Most pregnant women in the United States are at risk of inadequate intake of vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids from foods alone. Very few United States dietary supplements provide sufficient doses of all 6 nutrients without inducing excess intake. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify energy-efficient foods that provide sufficient doses of these nutrients and could be consumed in lieu of dietary supplements to achieve the recommended intake in pregnancy. METHODS: In a previous analysis of 2,450 pregnant women, we calculated the range of additional intake needed to shift 90% of participants to intake above the estimated average requirement and keep 90% below the tolerable upper level for these 6 nutrients. Here, we identified foods and beverages from the 2019 to 2020 Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies that provide target levels of these nutrients without exceeding the additional energy intake recommended for pregnancy beginning in the second trimester (340 kilocalories). RESULTS: We identified 2358 candidate foods meeting the target intake range for at least one nutrient. No candidate foods provided target amounts of all 6 nutrients. Seaweed (raw or cooked without fat) provided sufficient vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, and omega-3s (5 of 6 nutrients) but would require an intake of >5 cups/d. Twenty-one other foods/beverages (mainly fish, vegetables, and beverages) provided target amounts of 4 of the 6 nutrients. Few foods met targets for vitamin D (n = 54) or iron (n = 93). CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the difficulty in meeting nutritional requirements from diet alone and imply that dietary supplements are likely necessary to meet vitamin D and iron targets in pregnancy, as well as omega-3 fatty acid targets for individuals who do not consume fish products. Other foods could be added in limited amounts to help meet intake targets without exceeding caloric recommendations or nutrient safety limits.

Greater Gestational Vitamin D Status is Associated with Reduced Childhood Behavioral Problems in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy. Vitamin D plays an important role in the developing brain, and deficiency may impair childhood behavioral development. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between gestational 25(OH)D concentrations and childhood behavior in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. METHODS: Mother-child dyads from ECHO cohorts with data available on prenatal (first trimester through delivery) or cord blood 25(OH)D and childhood behavioral outcomes were included. Behavior was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or the Child Behavior Checklist, and data were harmonized using a crosswalk conversion. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations of 25(OH)D with total, internalizing, and externalizing problem scores while adjusting for important confounders, including age, sex, and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. The effect modification by maternal race was also assessed. RESULTS: Early (1.5-5 y) and middle childhood (6-13 y) outcomes were examined in 1688 and 1480 dyads, respectively. Approximately 45% were vitamin D deficient [25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL], with Black women overrepresented in this group. In fully adjusted models, 25(OH)D concentrations in prenatal or cord blood were negatively associated with externalizing behavior T-scores in middle childhood [-0.73 (95% CI: -1.36, -0.10) per 10 ng/mL increase in gestational 25(OH)D]. We found no evidence of effect modification by race. In a sensitivity analysis restricted to those with 25(OH)D assessed in prenatal maternal samples, 25(OH)D was negatively associated with externalizing and total behavioral problems in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, particularly among Black women, and revealed evidence of an association between lower gestational 25(OH)D and childhood behavioral problems. Associations were more apparent in analyses restricted to prenatal rather than cord blood samples. Interventions to correct vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy should be explored as a strategy to improve childhood behavioral outcomes.

Reducing Maternal Obesity and Diabetes Risks Prior to Conception with the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine exposure to maternal obesity and hyperglycemia greatly increases offspring health risks. Scalable lifestyle interventions to lower weight and glycemia prior to conception are needed, but have been understudied, especially in diverse and low-income women with disproportionately high risks of negative maternal-child outcomes. The objective of this report is to provide initial evidence of the National Diabetes Prevention Program's (NDPP) effects on maternal-child outcomes in diverse, low-income women and their offspring. METHODS: The yearlong NDPP was delivered in a safety net healthcare system to 1,569 participants from 2013 to 2019. Using medical records, we evaluated outcomes for women < 40 years who became pregnant and delivered after attending the NDPP for ≥ 1 month (n = 32), as compared to a usual care group of women < 40 years (n = 26) who were initially eligible for the NDPP but were excluded due to pregnancy at enrollment. RESULTS: Most women in either group were Latinx, had Medicaid or were uninsured, and had obesity at baseline. The mean difference in BMI change from baseline to conception was - 1.8 ± 0.6 kg/m2 (p = 0.002) for NDPP versus usual care. Fewer NDPP participants had obesity at conception (56.7% vs. 88.0%, p = 0.011) and hyperglycemia in early pregnancy (4.0% vs. 25.0%; p = 0.020) than usual care. No other differences were statistically significant, yet nearly all outcomes favored the NDPP. Covariate-adjusted results were consistent, except the difference in frequency of obesity at conception was no longer significant (p = 0.132). DISCUSSION: Results provide preliminary evidence that the NDPP may support a reduction in peri-conceptional obesity/diabetes risks among diverse and low-income women.

SIGNIFICANCE: Scalable lifestyle interventions to lower weight and glycemia prior to conception are needed, especially to support diverse and low-income women with disproportionately high risks of negative maternal-child outcomes. This report presents initial evidence of the National Diabetes Prevention Program?s effects on maternal-child outcomes in diverse, low-income women and their offspring. Results encouragingly suggest that the program can reduce peri-conceptional obesity and glycemia, and may be a resource to help break the cycle of disease across generations.

The maternal diet index in pregnancy is associated with offspring allergic diseases: the Healthy Start study.

BACKGROUND: A systematic review showed limited associations between pregnancy diet and offspring allergy. We developed a maternal diet index during pregnancy that was associated with offspring allergy outcomes. METHODS: Data came from Healthy Start, a Colorado pre-birth cohort of mother/offspring dyads. Food propensity questionnaires were completed during pregnancy. Offspring allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, wheeze, and food allergy diagnosis up to age four were verified from electronic medical records. Data were randomized into test and replication sets. The index included the weighted combination of variables that best predicted a combined outcome of any allergy in the test set. Index utility was verified in the replication set. Separate adjusted and unadjusted logistic models estimated associations between the index and each offspring allergy diagnosis in the full sample. RESULTS: The index included weighted measures of intake of vegetables, yogurt, fried potatoes, rice/grains, red meats, pure fruit juice, and cold cereals. Vegetables and yogurt were associated with the prevention of any allergy, while other components were associated with increased disease. In adjusted models, a one-unit increase in the index was significantly associated with reduced odds of offspring allergic rhinitis (odds ratio (CI) 0.82 [0.72-0.94]), atopic dermatitis (0.77 [0.69-0.86]), asthma (0.84 [0.74-0.96]), and wheeze (0.80 [0.71-0.90]), but not food allergy (0.84 [0.66-1.08]). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that has shown associations between an index of maternal dietary intake during pregnancy and multiple offspring allergic diseases. The results give hope for prevention of allergic diseases in utero.

Associations between child filaggrin mutations and maternal diet with the development of allergic diseases in children.

BACKGROUND: Filaggrin (FLG) loss-of-function mutations in children and maternal diet in pregnancy have been implicated in child allergy outcomes. This paper studies the questions: "do FLG mutations modify the effect of maternal diet on the odds of development of allergic diseases?" and "which factor leads to the highest rate of diagnosis allergic diseases over time, maternal diet, or FLG mutations?". METHODS: Exact logistic regressions studied effect modification. Cox proportional hazard models compared the rate of allergic disease development in three groups (N = 624): (1) children with FLG mutation, (2) children without FLG mutation whose mothers did not eat an allergy preventive diet, and (3) children without FLG mutation whose mothers ate an allergy preventive diet. Maternal diet was classified using a validated index. RESULTS: Cox models showed the development of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze was significantly higher for children in group 1 versus 3 (HR = 2.40 [1.32, 4.37], HR = 2.29 [1.05, 4.97], and HR 2.10 [1.004, 4.38], respectively), but not significantly higher for children in group 1 versus 2 (HR = 1.30 [0.74, 2.29], HR = 1.27 [0.61, 2.63], and HR = 1.29 [0.65, 2.58], respectively). Development of allergic rhinitis was significantly higher for group 1 versus 2 and 3 (1 vs. 2: HR = 2.29 [1.10, 4.76]; 1 vs. 3: HR = 3.21 [1.46, 7.08]). There was no significant effect modification for any outcome. CONCLUSION: Children with FLG mutation had similar risk of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and wheeze as children without an FLG mutation whose mothers did not eat an allergy preventive diet during pregnancy. Child FLG mutation did not modify the effect of maternal diet. The results suggest that maternal diet in pregnancy, a modifiable risk factor, could be a target for preventive interventions.

A comparison of the remote food photography method and the automated self-administered 24-h dietary assessment tool for measuring full-day dietary intake among school-age children.

The limitations of self-report measures of dietary intake are well-known. Novel, technology-based measures of dietary intake may provide a more accurate, less burdensome alternative to existing tools. The first objective of this study was to compare participant burden for two technology-based measures of dietary intake among school-age children: the Automated-Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool-2018 (ASA24-2018) and the Remote Food Photography Method (RFPM). The second objective was to compare reported energy intake for each method to the Estimated Energy Requirement for each child, as a benchmark for actual intake. Forty parent-child dyads participated in two, 3-d dietary assessments: a parent proxy-reported version of the ASA24 and the RFPM. A parent survey was subsequently administered to compare satisfaction, ease of use and burden with each method. A linear mixed model examined differences in total daily energy intake between assessments, and between each assessment method and the Estimated Energy Requirement (EER). Reported energy intake was 379 kcal higher with the ASA24 than the RFPM (P = 0·0002). Reported energy intake with the ASA24 was 231 kcal higher than the EER (P = 0·008). Reported energy intake with the RFPM did not differ significantly from the EER (difference in predicted means = -148 kcal, P = 0·09). Median satisfaction and ease of use scores were five out of six for both methods. A higher proportion of parents reported that the ASA24 was more time-consuming than the RFPM (74·4 % v. 25·6 %, P = 0·002). Utilisation of both methods is warranted given their high satisfaction among parents.

Reducing intergenerational obesity and diabetes risk.

To address the intergenerational transmission of obesity and diabetes, strategies promoting the health of women of reproductive age appear to be urgently needed. In this narrative review, we summarise what has been learned from many prenatal clinical trials, discuss the emerging evidence from preconception clinical trials and highlight persistent gaps and critical future directions. Most trials tested prenatal interventions that resulted in a limited gestational weight gain of ~1 kg and reduced gestational diabetes by 20-30%. These interventions also reduced macrosomia by 20-40% but had little-to-no impact on other offspring outcomes at birth or beyond. Far fewer trials tested preconception interventions, with almost all designed to improve conception or live-birth rates in overweight or obese women with infertility rather than reduce intergenerational risks in diverse populations. Preconception trials have successfully reduced weight by 3-9 kg and improved markers of glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance by the end of the intervention but whether effects were sustained to conception is unclear. Very few studies have reported offspring outcomes at birth and beyond, with no evidence thus far of beneficial effects on offspring obesity or diabetes risks. Further efforts to develop effective and scalable strategies to reduce risk of obesity and diabetes before conception should be prioritised, especially for diverse and under-resourced populations at disparately high risk of obesity and diabetes. Future clinical trials should include interventions with high potential for dissemination, diverse populations, thorough maternal phenotyping from enrolment through to conception and pregnancy, and rigorous assessment of offspring obesity and diabetes risks from birth onwards, including into the third generation.

How does exposure to overnutrition in utero lead to childhood adiposity? Testing the insulin hypersecretion hypothesis in the EPOCH cohort.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to explore metabolic pathways linking overnutrition in utero to development of adiposity in normal-weight children. METHODS: We included 312 normal-weight youth exposed or unexposed to overnutrition in utero (maternal BMI ≥25 kg/m2 or gestational diabetes). Fasting insulin, glucose and body composition were measured at age ~10 years (baseline) and ~16 years (follow-up). We examined associations of overnutrition in utero with baseline fasting insulin, followed by associations of baseline fasting insulin with adiposity (BMI z score [BMIZ], subcutaneous adipose tissue [SAT], visceral adipose tissue [VAT]), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting glucose during follow-up. RESULTS: >All participants were normal weight at baseline (BMIZ -0.32 ± 0.88), with no difference in BMIZ for exposed vs unexposed youth (p = 0.14). Of the study population, 47.8% were female sex and 47.4% were of white ethnicity. Overnutrition in utero corresponded with 14% higher baseline fasting insulin (geometric mean ratio 1.14 [95% CI 1.01, 1.29]), even after controlling for VAT/SAT ratio. Higher baseline fasting insulin corresponded with higher BMIZ (0.41 [95% CI 0.26, 0.55]), SAT (13.9 [95% CI 2.4, 25.4] mm2), VAT (2.0 [95% CI 0.1, 3.8] mm2), HOMA-IR (0.87 [95% CI 0.68, 1.07]) and fasting glucose (0.23 [95% CI 0.09, 0.38] SD). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Overnutrition in utero may result in hyperinsulinaemia during childhood, preceding development of adiposity. However, our study started at age 10 years, so earlier metabolic changes in response to overnutrition were not taken into account. Longitudinal studies in normal-weight youth starting earlier in life, and with repeated measurements of body weight, fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, beta cell function and blood glucose levels, are needed to clarify the sequence of metabolic changes linking early-life exposures to adiposity and dysglycaemia.

Maternal blood glucose level and offspring glucose-insulin homeostasis: what is the role of offspring adiposity?

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this work was to investigate the association of maternal HbA1c during mid-pregnancy with biomarkers of glucose-insulin homeostasis during early childhood (4-7 years of age) and to assess whether and how offspring adiposity at birth and at age 4-7 years mediates this relationship among 345 mother-child pairs in the Healthy Start Study. METHODS: The exposure was maternal HbA1c (mmol/mol) measured at 20-34 gestational weeks and categorised into tertiles. The outcomes were offspring fasting glucose, 1/insulin, HOMA2-IR, and HOMA2-B at age 4-7 years. The mediators were per cent fat mass (%FM) at birth, %FM at age 4-7 years, and the sum of the two as a metric of cumulative adiposity. Mediation analyses were conducted via a counterfactual-based approach. All models accounted for maternal race/ethnicity, offspring age and sex. RESULTS: There was a significant total effect of maternal HbA1c on offspring glucose and 1/insulin. Specifically, we observed a positive trend across tertiles of HbA1c and offspring glucose (p trend <0.001), and an inverse trend across tertiles of HbA1c and offspring 1/insulin (p trend = 0.04). For instance, compared with offspring of women in the lowest tertile of HbA1c, those whose mothers were in the second and third tertiles had 0.04 mmol/l (95% CI -0.05, 0.13) and 0.17 mmol/l (95% CI 0.08, 0.26) higher fasting glucose concentrations at age 4-7 years, respectively. Adjustment for pre-pregnancy BMI did not appreciably change the results. We found no evidence of mediation by offspring adiposity at any life stage. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Offspring of women with higher HbA1c during pregnancy had higher fasting glucose and lower insulin sensitivity by early childhood. These relationships were largely unaffected by the child's own adiposity. Graphical abstract.

Adherence to index-based dietary patterns in childhood and BMI trajectory during the transition to adolescence: the EPOCH study.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, one in five adolescents are obese. Index-based dietary patterns are measures of the overall diet that have the potential to serve as valuable obesity risk stratification tools. However, little is known about the association between adherence to index-based dietary patterns in childhood and BMI during the transition from childhood to adolescence. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the relationship between adherence to three index-based dietary patterns in childhood and BMI trajectory during the transition to adolescence. METHODS: The study included 581 children enrolled in a Colorado prospective cohort study conducted between 2006 and 2015. Dietary intake was assessed with the Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire at age 10 years. Scores were calculated for the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), the alternate Mediterranean (aMED) diet, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Weight and height were assessed via anthropometry at two research visits (ages 10 and 16 years), with interim clinical measurements extracted from Kaiser Permanente medical records. Separate mixed models were used to assess the association between each diet index score and BMI over a 6-year period. Models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, income, and exposure to gestational diabetes. RESULTS: Median (IQR) number of BMI assessments was 14 (10-18). Among girls, for every ten-unit increase in HEI-2010 score, there was an average 0.64 kg/m2 decrease (p = 0.007) in BMI over time, after adjustment for covariates. Among girls, there was no association between BMI and aMED (ß = -0.19, p = 0.24) or DASH (ß = 0.28, p = 0.38). Among boys, there was no statistically significant association between BMI and HEI-2010 (0.06, p = 0.83), aMED (0.07, p = 0.70), or DASH (0.42, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to prevent adolescent obesity could benefit from considering the degree of adherence to federal dietary guidance, as assessed by the HEI, in the period preceding adolescence, especially among girls.

Pre- and Perinatal Correlates of Ideal Cardiovascular Health during Early Childhood: A Prospective Analysis in the Healthy Start Study.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) during early childhood (4-7 years of age), and to identify pre- and perinatal biological, sociodemographic, metabolic, and behavioral correlates of ICVH. STUDY DESIGN: Among 350 mother-child pairs in the Healthy Start Study, we defined ICVH as no exposure to second hand smoke; ≥1 hour/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; body mass index ≤85th percentile; systolic and diastolic blood pressure <90th percentile; cholesterol <170 mg/dL, fasting glucose <100 mg/dL; and healthy diet, per the American Heart Association. Pre- and perinatal characteristics were obtained from questionnaires, medical records, and in-person visits. Because of low prevalence of ICVH, we focused on prevalence of meeting ≥6 metrics in the analysis. We examined bivariate associations of each characteristic with % meeting ≥6 metrics and included those that were significant (P < .05) in a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: ICVH prevalence at mean ± SD age 4.7±0.6 years was 6.9%; boys had twice the prevalence as girls (9% vs 4.4%). Most (>85%) children met criteria for second hand smoke, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, and only one-third met criteria for physical activity (31.4%) and diet (35.1%). In multivariable analyses, key correlates of ICVH were maternal weight status (ORoverweight/obese vs nonoverweight/obese = 0.41 [0.23, 0.73]) and offspring sex (ORmale vs female = 2.14 [1.22, 3.65]). CONCLUSIONS: At age 4-7 years, ICVH prevalence is already low, with diet and adequate physical activity being the limiting factors. Healthy maternal weight prior to pregnancy and male sex are potential determinants of childhood ICVH. Additional work is required to explore associations of early-life ICVH with future health outcomes.

Associations of Nutrient Intake Changes During Childhood with Adolescent Hepatic Fat: The Exploring Perinatal Outcomes Among CHildren Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations of dietary changes from childhood to adolescence with adolescent hepatic fat and whether the PNPLA3 rs738409 risk allele, a strong genetic risk factor for hepatic fat, modifies associations. STUDY DESIGN: Data were from 358 participants in the Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among CHildren (EPOCH) study, a longitudinal cohort in Colorado. Diet was assessed by food frequency questionnaire in childhood (approximately 10 years of age) and adolescence (approximately 16 years of age) and converted to nutrient densities. Hepatic fat was assessed in adolescence by magnetic resonance imaging. Linear regression was used to test associations of dietary changes from childhood to adolescence with adolescent hepatic fat. RESULTS: Increases in fiber, vegetable protein, and polyunsaturated fat intake from childhood to adolescence were associated with lower adolescent hepatic fat, and increases in animal protein were associated with higher hepatic fat (ß per 5-unit increase on log-hepatic fat: -0.12 [95% CI, -0.21 to -0.02] for ▵fiber; -0.26 [95% CI, -0.45 to -0.07] for ▵vegetable protein; -0.18 [95% CI, -0.35 to -0.02] for ▵polyunsaturated fat; 0.13 [95% CI, 0.04-0.22] for ▵animal protein). There was evidence of effect modification by PNPLA3 variant, whereby inverse associations of ▵fiber and ▵vegetable protein and positive associations of ▵saturated fat with adolescent hepatic fat were stronger in risk allele carriers. Most conclusions were similar after adjusting for obesity in adolescence, but associations of ▵saturated fat with hepatic fat were attenuated toward the null. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nutrient intake changes between childhood and adolescence, particularly decreases in fiber and vegetable protein and increases in saturated fat intake, interact with the PNPLA3 variant to predict higher hepatic fat in adolescence, and may be targets for reducing hepatic fat in high-risk youth.

Disparities in Risks of Inadequate and Excessive Intake of Micronutrients during Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate or excessive intake of micronutrients in pregnancy has potential to negatively impact maternal/offspring health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare risks of inadequate or excessive micronutrient intake in diverse females with singleton pregnancies by strata of maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, and prepregnancy BMI. METHODS: Fifteen observational cohorts in the US Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Consortium assessed participant dietary intake with 24-h dietary recalls (n = 1910) or food-frequency questionnaires (n = 7891) from 1999-2019. We compared the distributions of usual intake of 19 micronutrients from food alone (15 cohorts; n = 9801) and food plus dietary supplements (10 cohorts with supplement data; n = 7082) to estimate the proportion with usual daily intakes below their age-specific daily Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), above their Adequate Intake (AI), and above their Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), overall and within sociodemographic and anthropometric subgroups. RESULTS: Risk of inadequate intake from food alone ranged from 0% to 87%, depending on the micronutrient and assessment methodology. When dietary supplements were included, some women were below the EAR for vitamin D (20-38%), vitamin E (17-22%), and magnesium (39-41%); some women were above the AI for vitamin K (63-75%), choline (7%), and potassium (37-53%); and some were above the UL for folic acid (32-51%), iron (39-40%), and zinc (19-20%). Highest risks for inadequate intakes were observed among participants with age 14-18 y (6 nutrients), non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity (10 nutrients), less than a high school education (9 nutrients), or obesity (9 nutrients). CONCLUSIONS: Improved diet quality is needed for most pregnant females. Even with dietary supplement use, >20% of participants were at risk of inadequate intake of ≥1 micronutrients, especially in some population subgroups. Pregnancy may be a window of opportunity to address disparities in micronutrient intake that could contribute to intergenerational health inequalities.

Socioeconomic position is associated with glycemic control in youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Health inequities persist in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1diabetes in achieving optimal glycemic control. The purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of multiple indicators of social need to these inequities. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty two YYA withtype 1 diabetes enrolled in the SEARCH Food Insecurity Study in South Carolina and Washington between the years 2013 and 2015 were included. Latent class analysis was used to identify socioeconomic profiles based on household income, parental education, health insurance, household food insecurity, and food assistance. Profiles were evaluated in relation to glycemic control using multivariable linear and logistic regression, with HbA1c > 9%(75 mmol/mol) defined as high-risk glycemic control. RESULTS: Two profiles were identified: a lower socioeconomic profile included YYA whose parents had lower income and/or education, and were more likely to be uninsured, receive food assistance, and be food insecure. A higher socioeconomic profile included YYA whose circumstances were opposite to those in the lower socioeconomic profile. Those with a lower socioeconomic profile were more likely to have high-risk glycemic control relative to those with a higher socioeconomic profile (OR = 2.24, 95%CI = 1.16-4.33). CONCLUSIONS: Lower socioeconomic profiles are associated with high-risk glycemic control among YYA with type 1 diabetes. This supports recommendations that care providers of YYA with type 1 diabetes assess individual social needs in tailoring diabetes management plans to the social context of the patient.

Dietary strategies to manage diabetes and glycemic control in youth and young adults with youth-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes: The SEARCH for diabetes in youth study.

AIMS: Examine associations of dietary strategies used to manage diabetes over time with hemoglobin A1c in youth-onset type 1 or type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth observational study assessed dietary strategies used by 1814 participants with diabetes (n = 1558 type 1, n = 256 type 2) at two to three research visits over 5.5 years (range 1.7-12.2). Participants reported often, sometimes, or never using 10 different dietary strategies, and use over time was categorized into five mutually exclusive groups: often using across visits; started using at later visits; sometimes using across visits; stopped using at later visits; or never using across visits. General multivariable linear models evaluated most recent A1c by use category for each strategy. RESULTS: In type 1 diabetes, A1c was lower among those who starting tracking calories (-0.4%, Tukey P < .05), often counted carbs (-0.8%, Tukey P < .001), or sometimes chose low glycemic index foods (-0.5%, Tukey P = .02) vs those with less use, while participants who never drank more milk had the lowest A1c (-0.5%, Tukey P = .04). In type 2 diabetes, A1c was lower among those who often limited high fat foods (-2.0%, Tukey P = .02) or started counting carbohydrates (-1.7%, Tukey P = .07) than those who did so less. CONCLUSIONS: For several dietary strategies, more frequent use over time was related to lower A1c in youth-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes, suggesting these strategies can likely support diabetes management for this population. Investigation into factors predicting receipt of advice for specific strategies and corresponding impact on intake might be considered.

Persistent effects of in utero overnutrition on offspring adiposity: the Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children (EPOCH) study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We previously showed that intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases selected markers of adiposity in pre-pubertal adolescents. In the present study, we examined these associations in adolescence, and explored whether they are strengthened as the participants transition through puberty. METHODS: Data from 597 individuals (505 unexposed, 92 exposed) participating in the longitudinal Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children (EPOCH) study in Colorado were collected at two research visits when the participants were, on average, 10.4 and 16.7 years old. Adiposity measures included BMI, waist/height ratio, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (as determined by MRI). Separate general linear mixed models were used to assess the longitudinal relationships between exposure to maternal GDM and each adiposity outcome. We tested whether the effect changed over time by including an interaction term between exposure and age in our models, and whether the associations were explained by postnatal behaviours. RESULTS: Compared with unexposed participants, those exposed to maternal GDM had higher BMI (ß = 1.28; 95% CI 0.35, 2.21; p < 0.007), waist/height ratio (ß = 0.03; 95% CI 0.01, 0.04; p = 0.0004), visceral adipose tissue (ß = 4.81; 95% CI 1.08, 8.54; p = 0.01) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (ß = 35.15; 95% CI 12.43, 57.87; p < 0.003). The magnitude of these differences did not change over time and the associations did not appear to be explained by postnatal behaviours. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our data provide further evidence that intrauterine exposure to maternal GDM is associated with increased offspring adiposity, an effect that appears early in life and tracks throughout adolescence. Efforts to prevent childhood obesity following intrauterine exposure to maternal GDM should target the prenatal or early life periods.