Bulky DNA Adducts in Cord Blood, Maternal Fruit-and-Vegetable Consumption, and Birth Weight in a European Mother-Child Study (NewGeneris)

Citation

Pedersen, Marie; Schoket, Bernadette; Godschalk, Roger W.; Wright, John; von Stedingk, Hans; Tornqvist, Margareta; Sunyer, Jordi; Nielsen, Jeanette K.; Merlo, Domenico F.; & Mendez, Michelle A., et al. (2013). Bulky DNA Adducts in Cord Blood, Maternal Fruit-and-Vegetable Consumption, and Birth Weight in a European Mother-Child Study (NewGeneris). Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(10), 1200-1206. PMCID: PMC3801201

Abstract

Background: Tobacco-smoke, airborne, and dietary exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been associated with reduced prenatal growth. Evidence from biomarker-based studies of low-exposed populations is limited. Bulky DNA adducts in cord blood reflect the prenatal effective dose to several genotoxic agents including PAHs.
Objectives: We estimated the association between bulky DNA adduct levels and birth weight in a multicenter study and examined modification of this association by maternal intake of fruits and vegetables during pregnancy.
Methods: Pregnant women from Denmark, England, Greece, Norway, and Spain were recruited in 2006-2010. Adduct levels were measured by the 32P-postlabeling technique in white blood cells from 229 mothers and 612 newborns. Maternal diet was examined through questionnaires.
Results: Adduct levels in maternal and cord blood samples were similar and positively correlated (median, 12.1 vs. 11.4 adducts in 108 nucleotides; Spearman rank correlation coefficient = 0.66, p < 0.001). Cord blood adduct levels were negatively associated with birth weight, with an estimated difference in mean birth weight of -129 g (95% CI: -233, -25 g) for infants in the highest versus lowest tertile of adducts. The negative association with birth weight was limited to births in Norway, Denmark, and England, the countries with the lowest adduct levels, and was more pronounced in births to mothers with low intake of fruits and vegetables (-248 g; 95% CI: -405, -92 g) compared with those with high intake (-58 g; 95% CI: -206, 90 g).
Conclusions: Maternal exposure to genotoxic agents that induce the formation of bulky DNA adducts may affect intrauterine growth. Maternal fruit and vegetable consumption may be protective.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206333

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2013

Journal Title

Environmental Health Perspectives

Author(s)

Pedersen, Marie
Schoket, Bernadette
Godschalk, Roger W.
Wright, John
von Stedingk, Hans
Tornqvist, Margareta
Sunyer, Jordi
Nielsen, Jeanette K.
Merlo, Domenico F.
Mendez, Michelle A.
Meltzer, Helle Margrete
Lukacs, Viktoria
Landstrom, Anette
Kyrtopoulos, Soterios A.
Kovacs, Katalin
Knudsen, Lisbeth E.
Haugen, Margaretha
Hardie, Laura J.
Gutzkow, Kristine B.
Fleming, Sarah
Fthenou, Eleni
Farmer, Peter B.
Espinosa, Aina
Chatzi, Leda
Brunborg, Gunnar
Brady, Nigel J.
Botsivali, Maria
Arab, Khelifa
Anna, Livia
Alexander, Jan
Agramunt, Silvia
Kleinjans, Jos C.
Segerback, Dan
Kogevinas, Manolis

PMCID

PMC3801201