Jolien Steenweg-de Graaff

Publications (2)9.94 Total impact

• Article: Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and child internalising and externalising problems. The Generation R Study.

  Jolien Steenweg-de Graaff, Henning Tiemeier, Régine P M Steegers-Theunissen, Albert Hofman, Vincent W V Jaddoe, Frank C Verhulst, Sabine J Roza
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND & AIMS: Maternal nutritional factors during pregnancy have been linked to foetal brain development and subsequent offspring behaviour. Less is known about associations between maternal dietary patterns and offspring behaviour. METHODS: Within a population-based cohort, we assessed maternal diet using a food frequency questionnaire. Three dietary patterns were derived by means of Principal Component Analysis. Child internalising (emotionally reactive, anxious/depressed or withdrawn, having somatic complaints) and externalising problems (inattention, aggression) were assessed with the Child Behaviour Checklist at 1.5, 3 and 6 years in 3104 children. We assessed the association of maternal Mediterranean, Traditionally Dutch and Confectionary dietary pattern during pregnancy with child internalising and externalising problems. RESULTS: After adjustment, the Mediterranean diet was negatively associated (ORper SD in Mediterranean score = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97) and the Traditionally Dutch diet was positively associated with child externalising problems (ORper SD in Traditionally Dutch score = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.21). Neither diet was associated with internalising problems. CONCLUSIONS: Both low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high adherence to the Traditionally Dutch diet during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of child externalising problems. Further research is needed to unravel the effects of nutrient interplay during and after pregnancy on child behavioural development.
  Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) 03/2013; · 3.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Maternal folate status in early pregnancy and child emotional and behavioral problems: the Generation R Study.

  Jolien Steenweg-de Graaff, Sabine J Roza, Eric Ap Steegers, Albert Hofman, Frank C Verhulst, Vincent Wv Jaddoe, Henning Tiemeier
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  ABSTRACT: Maternal prenatal folate status has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, but the association with child emotional and behavioral problems is unclear. We assessed the association of maternal folate status during pregnancy with child emotional and behavioral problems. Also, we examined whether any association between folate status and child problems is a consequence of maternal folic acid supplement use or variation in maternal MTHFR genotype. Within a population-based cohort, we measured maternal plasma folate concentrations in early pregnancy and assessed folic acid supplement use by questionnaire. Mothers of European descent were genotyped for the MTHFR 677 C→T polymorphism. Child emotional and behavioral problems were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist at 3 y in 3209 children. Children of mothers with prenatal folate deficiency were at higher risk of emotional problems (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.38) but not behavioral problems (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.56) after adjustment for confounders. A higher risk of emotional problems was also found in children whose mothers started using folic acid supplements late or did not use supplements at all (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.84) than in children whose mothers started periconceptionally. However, low plasma folate concentrations only partly explained this association (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.78). Although related to plasma folate concentrations, maternal MTHFR genotype did not explain the association of folate status with offspring emotional problems. Low maternal folate status during early pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of emotional problems in the offspring.
  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 05/2012; 95(6):1413-21. · 6.67 Impact Factor