Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.)

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Paternal preconception folate intake in relation to gestational age at delivery and birthweight of newborns conceived through assisted reproduction
    (Elsevier, 2019) Souter, I. (Irene); Mínguez-Alarcón, L. (Lidia); Gaskins, A.J. (Audrey J.); Hauser, R. (Russ); Martin-Calvo, N. (Nerea); Williams, P.L. (Paige L.); Nassan, F.L. (Feiby L.); Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.)
    Research question Studies in rodents have shown that paternal folate intake prior to conception is associated with pregnancy and offspring outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess whether those associations might apply to humans as well. Design Between 2007 and 2017, the study prospectively analysed data from 108 couples participating in a preconception cohort of couples undergoing fertility treatment using their own gametes, whose treatment resulted in 113 pregnancies during the course of the study. Paternal and maternal preconception folate intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Linear mixed models were used to assess whether paternal preconception folate intake was associated with gestational age at delivery and gestational age-specific birthweight, while accounting for correlated data and potential confounders. Results In a multivariable-adjusted model, a 400 μg/day increase in preconception paternal folate intake was associated with a 2.6-day longer gestation (95% confidence interval 0.8–4.3) after adjusting for potential confounders, including maternal folate intake. Similar associations were found for folate from food and supplements. Maternal folate intake was not associated with gestational age at delivery. Neither paternal nor maternal folate intake was associated with gestational-age-specific birthweight. Conclusions Higher paternal preconception folate intake was associated with slightly longer gestation among live births achieved through assisted reproduction. The results suggest that preconception exposures of the father may have an impact on the health of his offspring, and therefore that preconception care should shift from a woman-centric to a couple-based approach.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Association of birth by cesarean delivery with obesity and type 2 diabetes among adult women
    (JAMA Network, 2020) Michels, K.B. (Karin B.); Sun, Q. (Qi); Martin-Calvo, N. (Nerea); Rich-Edwards, J.W. (Janet W.); Arvizu, M. (Maribel); Yuan, C. (Changzheng); Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.)
    Importance Cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity in offspring. However, whether this increased risk also includes obesity-associated conditions remains unclear. Objective To evaluate the association of birth by cesarean delivery with offspring’s risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study compared the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes between birth by cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery among 33 226 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study II who were born between 1946 and 1964, with follow-up through the end of the 2013-2015 follow-up cycle. Participants’ mothers provided information on mode of delivery and pregnancy characteristics. Participants provided information every 2 years on weight and diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Relative risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes were estimated using log-binomial and proportional hazards regression accounting for maternal body mass index and other confounding factors. Statistical analysis was performed from June 2017 to December 2019. Exposure Birth by cesarean delivery compared with birth by vaginal delivery. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk of obesity and incidence of type 2 diabetes. Results At baseline, the participants’ mean (SD) age was 33.8 (4.6) years (range, 24.0-44.0 years). A total of 1089 of the 33 226 participants (3.3%) were born by cesarean delivery. After 1 913 978 person-years of follow-up, 12 156 (36.6%) women were obese and 2014 (6.1%) had received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Women born by cesarean delivery were more likely to be classified as obese and to have received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes during follow-up. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk of obesity among women born by cesarean vs vaginal delivery was 1.11 (95% CI, 1.03-1.19). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for type 2 diabetes among women born by cesarean vs vaginal delivery was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.18-1.81); this association remained significant after additional adjustment for participant’s own body mass index (relative risk, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.08-1.67]). These associations persisted when analyses were restricted to women at low risk of cesarean delivery based on maternal characteristics. Conclusions and Relevance This study suggests that women born by cesarean delivery may have a higher risk than women born by vaginal delivery of being obese and developing type 2 diabetes during adult life.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Alcohol and difficulty conceiving in the SUN cohort: A nested case-control study
    (MDPI, 2015) Martinez-Gonzalez, M.A. (Miguel Ángel); Toledo, E. (Estefanía); Irala, J. (Jokin) de; Gea, A. (Alfredo); Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.); Lopez-del-Burgo, C. (Cristina)
    The role of alcohol on fertility remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between alcohol and specific alcoholic beverages consumption and the risk of difficulty getting pregnant. We used a case-control study nested within the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort, a prospective, dynamic and multipurpose cohort of 21,705 Spanish university graduates, followed biennially with mailed questionnaires. We identified 686 case-control pairs, matched for age and time in the cohort. Cases were women reporting difficulty getting pregnant. Controls did not consult due to difficulty conceiving and had at least one child during follow-up. After adjustment for potential confounders, we found no association between self-reported difficulty getting pregnant and the number of alcoholic beverages consumed per week, (Odds Ratio [OR] > 5 drinks/week vs. none = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.72-1.51). No association between types of alcoholic beverage and difficulty conceiving (OR > 5 drinks of wine/week vs. none = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.72-1.88; OR > 5 drinks of beer/week vs. none = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.82-1.37; OR > 5 drinks of spirits/week vs. none = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.84-1.64) was observed. In conclusion, we found no association between alcohol intake and risk of consulting a physician due to difficulty conceiving. More studies are needed to clearly elucidate the effects of alcohol intake on women's fertility. In the meantime, recommendations about alcohol intake to couples trying to conceive have to be given cautiously.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and BMI change among U.S. adolescents
    (2016) Hu, F.B. (Frank B.); Martin-Calvo, N. (Nerea); Field, A.E. (A. E.); Falbe, J. (Jennifer); Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.)
    Background: Among adults, the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) is inversely related to body mass index (BMI). Data are lacking on adherence to the MDP among youth in the United States and whether the MDP is related to weight change in that group. Objective: To assess whether adherence to the MDP was associated with BMI change among adolescents. To examine temporality, we studied the association between baseline and 2-3-year changes in adherence to the MDP with concurrent changes in BMI, as well as subsequent changes in BMI over a 7-year period. Methods: We prospectively followed 6002 females and 4916 males in the Growing Up Today Study II, aged 8-15 years in 2004, living across United States. Data were collected by questionnaire in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. Dietary intake was assessed by the Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire. The KidMed Index was derived to measure the adherence to the MDP. We used generalized estimating equations with repeated measures within subjects to assess the association between MDP and BMI change. Results: A two-point increment in the KidMed Index was independently associated with a lower gain in BMI (-0.04 kg m(-2); P=0.001). A greater increase in adherence to the KidMed Index was independently related to a lower gain in BMI in both the concurrent (P-for-trend<0.001) and the subsequent period (P-for-trend=0.002). Conclusions: Adherence to MDP was inversely associated with change in BMI among adolescents. Two-year improvement in adherence to MDP was independently associated with less steep gain in the BMI in both the concurrent and the subsequent period.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Ultraprocessed food intake and body mass index change among youths: a prospective cohort study
    (Elsevier, 2024) Sin Autoridad; Martín‐Calvo, N. (Nerea); Fung, T.T. (Teresa T.); Chavarro, J.E. (Jorge E.); Sun, Q. (Qi)
    Background Suboptimal diets may promote undesired weight gain in youths, with high ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake becoming a significant concern in the United States. Objectives We evaluated the association between UPF intake and body mass index [BMI (in kg/m2)] change in large United States youth cohorts. Methods Participants included children and adolescents (7–17 y) from the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS1 and GUTS2) who completed baseline and ≥1 follow-up diet and anthropometrics assessment (GUTS1 1996–2001: N = 15,797; GUTS2 2004–2011: N = 9720). Follow-up years were based on diet assessment availability. UPFs were categorized using the Nova system, with intakes evaluated as the cumulative mean percent energy from UPFs and subgroups. BMI was assessed using self-reported body weight/height. Changes in BMI annually and over 2, 4–5, and 7 y in association with UPF intake were examined using multivariable repeated-measure linear mixed models. Results At baseline, the mean percentage of energy from UPFs was 49.9% in GUTS1 and 49.5% in GUTS2 participants; mean BMI was 18.7 and 19.8, respectively. After multivariable adjustments for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, each 10% increment in UPF intake was associated with a 0.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.003, 0.03) increase annually and a 0.07 (0.01, 0.13) increase over 5 y in GUTS1 participants. In GUTS2, increases were 0.02 (0.003, 0.04) annually and 0.09 (0.01, 0.18) over 4 y. Among GUTS1, statistically significant annual BMI increases of 0.02–0.07 were associated with elevated intake of ultraprocessed breakfast cereals, savory snacks, and ready-to-eat/heat foods, especially pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. No association was found between UPF intake and overweight/obesity risk. Conclusions A higher UPF intake was associated with a modest yet significant increase in BMI in large prospective cohorts of United States youths, calling for public health efforts to promote healthful food intake among youths to prevent excessive weight gain.