scholarly journals Effect of Folic Acid Intake on Infant and Child Allergic Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zekun Chen ◽  
Yan Xing ◽  
Xue Yu ◽  
Yuqi Dou ◽  
Defu Ma

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of folic acid supplements on infant and child allergic diseases through systematic review and meta-analysis.Design: PubMed, The Cochrane Library and references of related articles published before January 1, 2020 were searched.Setting: Meta-analysis was used to explore the influence of folic acid on skin allergies (eczema, and atopic dermatitis) and respiratory allergies (asthma, wheezing, and allergic rhinitis).Participants: Data were collected from 15 studies with 244,018 individual participants from five different countries for meta-analysis.Results: Folic acid was confirmed as a risk factor for allergic diseases in infant and child. The risk of allergic diseases dramatically increased when maternal folic acid intake <400 μg/day (RR = 1.050; 95% CI = 1.027–1.073) during pregnancy. Stratified analyses revealed that the association was significant only for respiratory allergy (RR = 1.067; 95% CI = 1.028–1.108) and pregnant women who only used folic acid supplements (RR = 1.070; 95% CI = 1.030–1.112) and that countries without folic acid fortification (RR = 1.046; 95% CI = 1.026–1.067).Conclusions: This study suggested that folic acid intake can be a risk factor for allergic diseases, especially respiratory tract allergies among infants and young children. Furthermore, pregnant women should pay attention to supplementation of folic acid from both folic acid supplements and fortified foods with folic acid during pregnancy.

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 2344-2350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Manniën ◽  
Ank de Jonge ◽  
Martina C Cornel ◽  
Evelien Spelten ◽  
Eileen K Hutton

AbstractObjectiveNeural tube defects are among the most common birth defects worldwide. Folic acid intake from one month before to three months after conception reduces the likelihood of neural tube defects by at least 50 %. Since 1995, several campaigns have been organised in the Netherlands which resulted in 51 % of pregnant women using folic acid supplements during the entire recommended period in the northern part of the Netherlands in 2005. Our research question was to gain insight into the current prevalence and factors associated with inadequate pregnancy-related use of folic acid supplements.DesignData from the DELIVER study were used, which is a population-based cohort study.SettingTwenty midwifery practices across the Netherlands in 2009 and 2010.SubjectsIn total 5975 pregnant women completed a questionnaire covering items on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including folic acid intake.ResultsOf our study population, 55·5 % (3318/5975) used folic acid supplements before conception. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were associated with no preconception use of folic acid, of which non-Western ethnicity and not having a partner had the largest effect size.ConclusionsIn the Netherlands, the folic acid intake before conception is suboptimal and has not improved over recent years. Fortification of staple foods with folic acid should be reconsidered as it would provide a more effective means of ensuring an adequate intake, especially for those groups of women who are unlikely to plan their pregnancies or to receive or respond to health promotion messages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1926-1934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Moazzen ◽  
Roya Dolatkhah ◽  
Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi ◽  
Jabraeel Shaarbafi ◽  
Behrooz Z. Alizadeh ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista S. Crider ◽  
Owen Devine ◽  
Yan Ping Qi ◽  
Lorraine F. Yeung ◽  
Ahlia Sekkarie ◽  
...  

The threshold for population-level optimal red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration among women of reproductive age for the prevention of neural tube defects has been estimated at 906 nmol/L; however, the dose-response relationship between folic acid intake and blood folate concentrations is uncharacterized. To estimate the magnitude of blood folate concentration increase in response to specific dosages of folic acid under steady-state conditions (as could be achieved with food fortification), a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was conducted. Of the 14,002 records we identified, 533 were selected for full-text review, and data were extracted from 108 articles. The steady-state concentrations (homeostasis) of both serum/plasma and RBC folate concentrations were estimated using a Bayesian meta-analytic approach and one-compartment physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models. RBC folate concentrations increased 1.78 fold (95% credible interval (CI): 1.66, 1.93) from baseline to steady-state at 375–570 µg folic acid/day, and it took a median of 36 weeks of folic acid intake (95% CI: 27, 52) to achieve steady-state RBC folate concentrations. Based on regression analysis, we estimate that serum/plasma folate concentrations increased 11.6% (95% CI: 8.4, 14.9) for every 100 µg/day folic acid intake. These results will help programs plan and monitor folic acid fortification programs.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e044564
Author(s):  
Kaizhuang Huang ◽  
Jiaying Lu ◽  
Yaoli Zhu ◽  
Tao Cheng ◽  
Dahao Du ◽  
...  

IntroductionDelirium in the postoperative period is a wide-reaching problem that affects important clinical outcomes. The incidence and risk factors of delirium in individuals with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been completely determined and no relevant systematic review and meta-analysis of incidence or risk factors exists. Hence, we aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the incidence and risk factors of delirium among AMI patients undergoing PCI.Methods and analysesWe will undertake a comprehensive literature search among PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Google Scholar from their inception to the search date. Prospective cohort and cross-sectional studies that described the incidence or at least one risk factor of delirium will be eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome will be the incidence of postoperative delirium. The quality of included studies will be assessed using a risk of bias tool for prevalence studies and the Cochrane guidelines. Heterogeneity of the estimates across studies will be assessed. Incidence and risk factors associated with delirium will be extracted. Incidence data will be pooled. Each risk factor reported in the included studies will be recorded together with its statistical significance; narrative and meta-analytical approaches will be employed. The systematic review and meta-analysis will be presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ethics and disseminationThis proposed systematic review and meta-analysis is based on published data, and thus there is no requirement for ethics approval. The study will provide an up to date and accurate incidence and risk factors of delirium after PCI among patients with AMI, which is necessary for future research in this area. The findings of this study will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020184388.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yemataw Gelaw ◽  
Zegeye Getaneh ◽  
Mulugeta Melku

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is a major public health problem caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, occurring predominantly in population with low socioeconomic status. It is the second most common cause of death from infectious diseases. Tuberculosis becomes a double burden among anemic patients. Anemia increases an individual’s susceptibility to infectious diseases including tuberculosis by reducing the immunity level. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether anemia is a risk factor for tuberculosis. Method Relevant published articles were searched in electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library using the following MeSH terms: risk factor, predictors, tuberculosis, TB, Anaemia, Anemia, hemoglobin, Hgb, and Hb. Articles written in the English, observational studies conducted on the incidence/prevalence of tuberculosis among anemic patients, or papers examined anemia as risk factors for tuberculosis were included. From those studies meeting eligibility criteria, the first author’s name, publication year, study area, sample size and age of participants, study design, and effect measure of anemia for tuberculosis were extracted. The data were entered using Microsoft Excel and exported to Stata version 11 for analysis. The random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled OR and HR, and 95% CI. The sources of heterogeneity were tested by Cochrane I-squared statistics. The publication bias was assessed using Egger’s test statistics. Results A total of 17 articles with a 215,294 study participants were included in the analysis. The odd of tuberculosis among anemic patients was 3.56 (95% CI 2.53–5.01) times higher than non-anemic patients. The cohort studies showed that the HR of tuberculosis was 2.01 (95% CI 1.70–2.37) times higher among anemic patients than non-anemic patients. The hazard of tuberculosis also increased with anemia severity (HR 1.37 (95% CI 0.92–2.05), 2.08 (95% CI 1.14–3.79), and 2.66 (95% CI 1.71–4.13) for mild, moderate, and severe anemia, respectively). Conclusion According to the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we can conclude that anemia was a risk factor for tuberculosis. Therefore, anemia screening, early diagnose, and treatment should be provoked in the community to reduce the burden of tuberculosis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Evans ◽  
Stefan Rennick-Egglestone ◽  
Serena Cox ◽  
Yvonne Kuipers ◽  
Helen Spiby

BACKGROUND Symptoms of anxiety are common in pregnancy, with severe symptoms associated with negative outcomes for women and babies. Low level psychological therapy is recommended as first line treatment options for women with mild to moderate anxiety, with the aim to prevent an escalation of symptoms and provide women with coping strategies. Remotely delivered interventions have been suggested to improve access to treatment and support for women in pregnancy and provide a cost-effective, flexible and timely solution. OBJECTIVE To identify and evaluate remotely delivered, digital or on-line interventions to support women with symptoms of anxiety in pregnancy. METHODS A mixed method systematic review following a convergent segregated approach to synthesise the qualitative and quantitative data. The ACM Digital Library, AMED, ASSIA, CRD, CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, HTA, IEEE Xplore, JBI, Maternity and Infant Care, Medline, PsycINFO and the Social Science Citation Index were searched in October 2020. Quantitative or qualitative primary research including pregnant women which evaluated remotely delivered interventions reporting measures of anxiety, fear, stress, distress, women’s views, feedback and opinions were included in the review. RESULTS Three qualitative and 14 were quantitative studies included. Populations included a general antenatal population, and pregnant women with anxiety and depression, fear of childbirth, insomnia and pre-term labour. Interventions included CBT, Problem Solving, Mindfulness and Educational designs. Most interventions were delivered via on-line platforms and 8 included direct contact from trained therapists or coaches. A meta-analysis of the quantitative data found for I-CBT and facilitated interventions there was observed beneficial effect in relation to the reduction of anxiety scores (SMD=-0.49; 95% CI=-0.75 to -0.22; SMD=-0.48; 95% CI=-0.75 to -0.22). However, due to limitations in the amount of available data and study quality, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Synthesised findings from quantitative and qualitative data found some evidence to suggest that interventions are more effective when women are motivated to maintain regular participation in interventions. Participation may be enhanced by providing regular contact with therapists, targeting interventions for women with anxiety symptoms; providing peer support forums; including components of relaxation and cognitive based skills; and providing sufficient sessions to develop new skills without being too time consuming. CONCLUSIONS There is limited evidence to suggest that pregnant women may benefit from remotely delivered interventions. The synthesised findings highlighted components of interventions which may improve the effectiveness and acceptability of remotely delivered interventions. These include providing women with contact with a therapist, healthcare professional or peer community. Women may be more motivated to complete interventions which are perceived as relevant or tailored to their needs and situations. Remote interventions may also provide women with greater anonymity to help them feel more confident in disclosing their symptoms.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249789
Author(s):  
Meseret Belete Fite ◽  
Kedir Teji Roba ◽  
Lemessa Oljira ◽  
Abera Kenay Tura ◽  
Tesfaye Assebe Yadeta

Background Anemia is one of the world’s leading cause of disability and the most serious global public health issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted very carefully in order to give up the pooled compliance of Iron and Folic-Acid Supplementation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods To conduct this brief systematic review and meta-analysis, a related literature search was done from different sources, PubMed Medline and Google Scholar Journals. Then IFA Supplementation related searching engine was used to make the work more meaningful and intensive. Moreover, we used modified Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale for cross sectional studies to assess the quality of the study in terms of their inclusion. Then, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline was followed to carry out the work in a carful manner. Finally, the pooled effect size was computed using the review manager and Compressive Meta-analysis software. Results Twenty-three studies, which encompassed 24272 pregnant women, were chosen for the analysis. From those an overall prevalence of compliance with Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) in pregnancy in SSA was 39.2%. However, the result from meta-analysis showed that women who were counseled on IFAS in their courses of pregnancy were 1.96 times more likely to adhere to IFAS compared to those who were not counseled [OR:1.96, 95% CI (1.76-,5.93)]. Moreover, it showed that women who had knowledge of IFAS were 2.71 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared to those who had no knowledge of IFAS [OR:2.71, 95% CI (1.33,5.54)]. Also it revealed that those women who had knowledge of anemia were 5.42 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared with those who had no knowledge of anemia [OR5.42, 95% CI (1.52, 19.43)]. Furthermore, women who had received fourth visit for ANC were 1.54 times more likely to have compliance with IFAS as compared to those who had not received for ANC [OR 1.54, 95% CI (0.66, 3.58.43)]. Conclusions Our finding from this systematic review and meta-analysis shows the low case in prevalence of compliance to IFAS among pregnant women in SSA. Predictors for this includes: knowledge about anemia, knowledge about IFAS, counseling on IFAS and receiving fourth antenatal care visit were statistically correlated positively with compliance to IFAS. This demands careful appraisal of effect of prevention work for functioning policy, programs and plan nutrition intrusions for refining maternal dietary intake in gestation. Also dietary education intrusion requires to be planned to satisfy the needs of pregnant women. So we hope that the result of this study might be essential as a bridging stone for policy makers of Africa; exclusively for maternal and child health care. Finally, we recommended further studies to be conducted in the area of the study for more intensive and detailed suggestions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siraj Hussen ◽  
Birkneh Tilahun Tadesse

Objective. Syphilis is one of the most imperative STIs, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. During pregnancy it is associated with disastrous health outcomes in the newborn. In sub-Saharan Africa, study findings on the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women are highly dispersed and inconsistent. The aim of the current review is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa among pregnant women. Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data Sources. Databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and HINARI and reference lists of previous prevalence studies were systematically searched for relevant literature from January 1999 to November 2018. Results were presented in forest plot, tables, and figures. Random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. For the purpose of this review, a case of syphilis was defined as positive treponemal or nontreponemal tests among pregnant women. Data Extraction. Our search gave a total of 262 citations from all searched databases. Of these, 44 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria and comprising 175,546 subjects were finally included. Results. The pooled prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa was 2.9% (95%CI: 2.4%-3.4%). East and Southern African regions had a higher syphilis prevalence among pregnant women (3.2%, 95% CI: 2.3%-4.2% and 3.6%, 95%CI: 2.0%-5.1%, respectively) than the sub-Saharan African pooled prevalence. The prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in most parts of the region seemed to have decreased over the past 20 years except for the East African region. However, prevalence did not significantly differ by region and time period. Conclusion. This review showed a high prevalence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa among pregnant women. The evidence suggests strengthening the screening program during pregnancy as part of the care package during antenatal care visits. Programs focusing on primary prevention of syphilis in women should also be strengthened.


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