Dioxin-like activity in plasma among Danish pregnant women: dietary predictors, birth weight and infant development

Environ Res. 2009 Jan;109(1):22-8. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2008.08.011. Epub 2008 Oct 21.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify dietary predictors of plasma dioxin-like activity in women from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Associations between exposure and birth weight and infant development at 6 months were also explored. Diet was assessed in mid-pregnancy by a food-frequency questionnaire. One hundred nulliparous 25-35-year-old women of normal pre-pregnancy body-mass-index were chosen according to their intake of fatty fish, as fatty fish is a potential route of exposure. Intake of other foods of animal origin was also explored. Dioxin-like activity was measured in plasma using the Dioxin-Responsive Chemically Activated LUciferase eXpression (DR-CALUX) and quantified in toxic equivalents (CALUX-TEQs). Information on infant attainment of specific milestones was obtained by maternal report in a standardized interview. The sample mean was 46 pg CALUX-TEQ/g lipid. Plasma dioxin-like activity increased by 10.7 pg CALUX-TEQ/g lipid (95% CI: 1.8; 19.7) for the highest compared to the lowest tertile of total dietary fat intake but decreased by -9.8 pg CALUX-TEQ/g lipid (95% CI: -19.4; -0.2) for fatty fish intake. The inverse association for fatty fish was explained by lower intake of high-fat food groups such as red meat, fats and oils, which were also predictors of dioxin-like activity. Plasma dioxin-like activity was not associated with birth weight, but an inverse correlation was observed with total developmental score (Spearman r=-0.23, p=0.046). Our study indicates that dietary patterns associated with high fat intake may lead to increased plasma dioxin-like activity and in utero exposure might be related to early infant development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Birth Weight / drug effects*
  • Child Development / drug effects*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Denmark
  • Diet*
  • Dioxins* / blood
  • Dioxins* / toxicity
  • Environmental Pollutants* / blood
  • Environmental Pollutants* / toxicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Maternal Exposure* / adverse effects
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Dioxins
  • Environmental Pollutants