Prenatal antioxidant-enriched and pro-oxidant-contained food, IL4 and IL13 pathway genes, and cord blood IgE

Abstract

Abstract Prenatal oxidative balance might influence cord blood IgE (cIgE) levels. We aimed to explore if certain prenatal dietary sources of antioxidants and pro-oxidants are associated with cIgE elevation and if they interact with IL4 and IL13 pathway genes. A structured questionnaire was completed during the third trimester of pregnancy for 1107 full-term newborns. Surveyed antioxidant-enriched food included fish, shellfish, and fruit, whereas surveyed pro-oxidant-contained food included fried fish sticks and canned fish. Cord blood was collected for measuring cIgE levels and genotyping IL13 rs1800925, rs20541, rs848, IL4 rs2243250, and STAT6 rs324011. Fairly lean fish consumption showed protection against cIgE elevation (odds ratio [OR] 0.66; 95% CI 0.49–0.90) in the whole sample, while daily fruit (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.27–0.79) and ≥ monthly canned fish (OR 2.81; 95% CI 1.24–6.36) exhibited associations only in genetically susceptible babies. A prenatal food protective index, comprising any fairly lean fish, daily fruit, and the absence of any canned fish, exerted dose–response protection against cIgE elevation in babies carrying the IL13 rs20541 GA or AA genotype (P for trend < 0.0001; P for interaction = 0.004). We concluded that prenatal antioxidant-enriched and pro-oxidant-contained food consumption may influence cIgE, especially in genetically susceptible babies.