Maternal Dietary Protein Patterns During Pregnancy and the Risk of Infant Eczema: A Cohort Study

Background: Previous studies have suggested that maternal dietary protein was associated with allergic diseases in offspring, but few studies have evaluated the influence of dietary protein patterns. This study aimed to explore the prospective association between maternal dietary protein patterns during pregnancy and the risk of infant eczema.Methods: A total of 713 mother-child pairs from a prospective cohort in Guangzhou, China were recruited. Maternal dietary protein was estimated using a validated face-to-face food frequency questionnaire at 20–28 weeks' gestation from 2017 to 2018. Dietary protein patterns were calculated based on the sources of protein. The data of infant eczema was assessed at 6 months of age using the symptom questionnaire of eczema. Logistic regression was carried out to examine the associations between maternal dietary protein patterns and infant eczema.Results: The cumulative incidence of infant eczema at 6 months of age was 51.19%. Mothers of infants with eczema consumed more protein from poultry source during pregnancy than mothers of infants without eczema, while no statistical differences were observed in maternal intakes of protein from cereals and tubers, vegetables, fruits, red meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy, soybean, and nuts and seeds. Four dietary protein patterns were identified and termed poultry, plant, dairy and eggs, and red meat and fish. The cumulative incidence of eczema was 61.2, 45.8, 48.0, 51.4% for these four patterns, respectively. Compared to the poultry dietary pattern, the plant pattern and the dairy and eggs pattern were associated with a reduced risk of infant eczema, and the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.572 (0.330–0.992), 0.478 (0.274–0.837), respectively. No such association was observed for the red meat and fish dietary protein pattern.Conclusion: This is the first study that focused on the association between maternal dietary protein during pregnancy from a whole-diet perspective and infant eczema. Compared with the poultry dietary protein pattern, the maternal plant pattern and the dairy and eggs pattern during pregnancy were associated with a reduced risk of infant eczema.

Engineered probiotic and prebiotic nutraceutical supplementations in combating non-communicable disorders: A review

: Nutritional supplementations are a form of nutrition sources that may help in improving health complexities throughout the life span of a person. Under the umbrella of food supplementations, nutraceuticals are products extracted from edible sources that provide medical benefits along with primary nutritional value, these can be considered as functional foods. These nutraceutical supplementations are also evidenced in altering the commensal gut microbiota and help to prevent or fight against chronic non-communicable degenerative diseases in adults including neurological disorders (Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD], Parkinson’s disease [PD] and Multiple sclerosis [MS]) and metabolic disorder (Type-II Diabetes, Obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Even the complexities of preterm babies like extra-uterine growth restriction, necrotizing enterocolitis, infant eczema and allergy (during pregnancy) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, etc. could also be lessened up by providing proper nutrition. Molecular perceptive of inflammatory and apoptotic modulators regulating the pathogenesis of these health risks, their control and management by probiotics and prebiotics could further emphasize the scientific overview of their utility. The pivotal role of nutraceutical supplementations in regulating or modulating molecular pathways coupled with the above mentioned non-communicable diseases are briefly described. Lastly, an overall introduction to the sophisticated genome-editing techniques and advanced delivery systems in therapeutic activities applicable under these health risks are also emphasized in this paper.

Maternal Dietary Protein Patterns in Pregnancy and Risk of Infant Eczema

Objectives To study the relationship between maternal dietary protein patterns in pregnancy and the risk of infant eczema. Methods A total of 714 mother-child pairs from a birth cohort in Guangzhou, China were studied. Maternal dietary intake was collected by a face-to-face food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) at 20–28 weeks' gestation, and protein intake of each food group was calculated for subsequent K-means cluster analysis to determine dietary protein patterns. Telephone interviews were used to collect parent-reported infant eczema data at age 6 months. The association between maternal dietary protein patterns and infant eczema was tested by using logistic regression models, after adjustment for potential confounders. Results Cumulative incidence of eczema by 6 months of age was 51.26%. Four dietary protein patterns were identified according to the dietary protein sources, including poultry pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from poultry), plant pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from grain, soybean, vegetables, nuts and seeds), dairy and egg pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from dairy, eggs, and fruits), and red meat and seafood pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from red meat, fish and seafood). Compared to the poultry dietary pattern, plant pattern and dairy and egg pattern were associated with a reduced risk of developing infant eczema: the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.572(0.330–0.992) and 0.288(0.279–0.854) respectively. No such association was observed in red meat and seafood pattern. Conclusions The maternal plant and dairy and egg dietary protein patterns in pregnancy may be preventive against infant eczema. Funding Sources This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81,602,862) and the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (SZSM201803061).

Concurrence of Acrodermatitis Enteropathica and Eczema Herpeticum in a Child with Atopic Dermatitis

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AcE) is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited disorder caused by mutation of the SLC39A4 gene coding for zinc transport protein (ZIP 4). The disease appears during childhood especially in breastfeeding or post-breastfeeding infant. Eczema herpeticum refers to a disseminated skin infection of herpes simplex virus that usually leads to vesicular eruptions commonly seen on a background of atopic dermatitis (AD). We describe an 11-year-old boy with periorificial erosions in periorbital, perinasal, perioral, perineal, and gluteal areas, accompanied with itchy vesicles, some covered with hemorrhagic crusts. A clinical diagnosis of AcE and eczema herpeticum with AD was supported by typical lesions and acute and chronic eczematous changes found mainly in the flexural aspects of extremities, which is diagnostic of AD. Laboratory findings showed anti HSV1 IgG (23.43) and high levels of IgE (478.9 IU/L). There was no multinucleated giant cell in the Tzanck test. Skin histology was compatible with AcE. Direct immunofluorescent examination showed no deposits of IgG, IgM, IgA, or complement. Complete resolution occurred within 2 weeks of acyclovir and oral zinc supplementation.