The Intake of Ultra-processed Foods and Homocysteine Levels in Women With(out) Overweight and Obesity: The Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort

Overview

Journal Eur J Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2024 Feb 21

PMID 38383813

Authors

Nicole Schenkelaars

Lenie van Rossem

Sten P Willemsen

Marijke M Faas

Sam Schoenmakers

Regine P M Steegers-Theunissen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Today's diet consists of a substantial proportion of ultra-processed foods (UPF), especially in women with overweight and obesity in the reproductive period. High UPF intake results in an inadequate and unbalanced diet leading to derangements of several metabolic pathways detrimental to pregnancy and birth outcomes. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether UPF intake in the periconceptional period affects total homocysteine plasma levels (tHcy).

Methods: 1532 participants were included from the prospective Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort. UPF intake was calculated using Food Frequency Questionnaires including items classified as 4 in the Nova classification, and tHcy was measured by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system, with an interassay coefficient of variation of < 5.5%. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used and adjusted for covariates and significant interaction terms.

Results: Women with overweight or obesity showed significantly higher percentage of UPF intake (respectively, 50.3 and 51.3%) and higher tHcy (respectively, 6.6 and 6.3 µmol/L, Kruskal-Wallis test; respectively, p < 0.001 and p = 0.04) compared to women with normal BMI (UPF intake: 46.8%, tHcy: 6.1 µmol/L). A 10% higher intake of UPF was associated with an increase in tHcy (adjusted: β = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.38-2.23). Analysis stratified for BMI classification showed comparable associations in normal weight participants (adjusted: β = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.06-2.07); however, no significant association in participants with overweight (adjusted: β = 0.06, 95% CI = - 0.95-1.07) and obesity (adjusted: β = 1.70, 95% CI = - 0.52-3.92) was shown.

Conclusion: This study showed that a higher intake of UPF is associated with increased tHcy. Better knowledge and awareness of the nutritional quality of the diet in the periconceptional period may contribute to 1-CM and subsequently improve pregnancy course and outcome.

Trial Registration Number And Date: NTR4356, November 2010.

Citing Articles

Hyperhomocysteinemia: Underlying Links to Stroke and Hydrocephalus, with a Focus on Polyphenol-Based Therapeutic Approaches.

Ortiz-Salguero C, Romero-Bernal M, Gonzalez-Diaz A, Doush E, Del Rio C, Echevarria M Nutrients. 2025; 17(1.

PMID: 39796474 PMC: 11722995. DOI: 10.3390/nu17010040.

Association between elevated homocysteine levels and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis.

He J, Zhou H, Xiong J, Huang Y, Huang N, Jiang J Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 15:1378293.

PMID: 38887264 PMC: 11180825. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1378293.

Effects of marketing claims on toddler food products on parents' product preferences, perceptions and purchasing intentions: an online experiment.

Dixon H, Awoke M, Scully M, McCann J, Martin J, Morley B Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2024; 21(1):60.

PMID: 38773586 PMC: 11110258. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01603-9.

References

King J . A Summary of Pathways or Mechanisms Linking Preconception Maternal Nutrition with Birth Outcomes. J Nutr. 2016; 146(7):1437S-44S. PMC: 4926847. DOI: 10.3945/jn.115.223479. View

Montagnoli C, Santoro C, Buzzi T, Bortolus R . Maternal periconceptional nutrition matters. A scoping review of the current literature. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021; 35(25):8123-8140. DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1962843. View

Malinowska A, Mlodzik-Czyzewska M, Chmurzynska A . Dietary patterns associated with obesity and overweight: When should misreporters be included in analysis?. Nutrition. 2019; 70:110605. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2019.110605. View

Barker D, Eriksson J, Forsen T, Osmond C . Fetal origins of adult disease: strength of effects and biological basis. Int J Epidemiol. 2003; 31(6):1235-9. DOI: 10.1093/ije/31.6.1235. View

Steegers-Theunissen R, Twigt J, Pestinger V, Sinclair K . The periconceptional period, reproduction and long-term health of offspring: the importance of one-carbon metabolism. Hum Reprod Update. 2013; 19(6):640-55. DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmt041. View

Anderson O, Sant K, Dolinoy D . Nutrition and epigenetics: an interplay of dietary methyl donors, one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation. J Nutr Biochem. 2012; 23(8):853-9. PMC: 3405985. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.03.003. View

Wouters M, Boers G, Blom H, Trijbels F, Thomas C, Borm G . Hyperhomocysteinemia: a risk factor in women with unexplained recurrent early pregnancy loss. Fertil Steril. 1993; 60(5):820-5. View

Hogg B, Tamura T, Johnston K, Dubard M, Goldenberg R . Second-trimester plasma homocysteine levels and pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000; 183(4):805-9. DOI: 10.1067/mob.2000.109044. View

Chaudhry S, Taljaard M, MacFarlane A, Gaudet L, Smith G, Rodger M . The role of maternal homocysteine concentration in placenta-mediated complications: findings from the Ottawa and Kingston birth cohort. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019; 19(1):75. PMC: 6381683. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2219-5. View

10.

Omoike O, Paul T, Ridner S, Awasthi M, Harirforoosh S, Mamudu H . Association between smoking status and homocysteine levels and possible effect modification by cholesterol and oestradiol. Biomarkers. 2019; 25(2):126-130. DOI: 10.1080/1354750X.2019.1705395. View

11.

Chrysohoou C, Panagiotakos D, Pitsavos C, Zeimbekis A, Zampelas A, Papademetriou L . The associations between smoking, physical activity, dietary habits and plasma homocysteine levels in cardiovascular disease-free people: the 'ATTICA' study. Vasc Med. 2004; 9(2):117-23. DOI: 10.1191/1358863x04vm542oa. View

12.

Poston L, Caleyachetty R, Cnattingius S, Corvalan C, Uauy R, Herring S . Preconceptional and maternal obesity: epidemiology and health consequences. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016; 4(12):1025-1036. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30217-0. View

13.

Hall K, Ayuketah A, Brychta R, Cai H, Cassimatis T, Chen K . Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake. Cell Metab. 2019; 30(1):67-77.e3. PMC: 7946062. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008. View

14.

Monteiro C, Moubarac J, Cannon G, Ng S, Popkin B . Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obes Rev. 2013; 14 Suppl 2:21-8. DOI: 10.1111/obr.12107. View

15.

Srour B, Kordahi M, Bonazzi E, Deschasaux-Tanguy M, Touvier M, Chassaing B . Ultra-processed foods and human health: from epidemiological evidence to mechanistic insights. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022; 7(12):1128-1140. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(22)00169-8. View

16.

Martinez Leo E, Acevedo Fernandez J, Segura Campos M . Biopeptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in the prevention and treatment of diabesity disease. Biomed Pharmacother. 2016; 83:816-826. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.07.051. View

17.

Bolte L, Vich Vila A, Imhann F, Collij V, Gacesa R, Peters V . Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome. Gut. 2021; 70(7):1287-1298. PMC: 8223641. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-322670. View

18.

Rubini E, Schenkelaars N, Rousian M, Sinclair K, Wekema L, Faas M . Maternal obesity during pregnancy leads to derangements in one-carbon metabolism and the gut microbiota: implications for fetal development and offspring wellbeing. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022; 227(3):392-400. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.04.013. View

19.

Steegers-Theunissen R, Verheijden-Paulissen J, van Uitert E, Wildhagen M, Exalto N, Koning A . Cohort Profile: The Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort (Predict Study). Int J Epidemiol. 2015; 45(2):374-81. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv147. View

20.

Rousian M, Schoenmakers S, Eggink A, Gootjes D, Koning A, Koster M . Cohort Profile Update: the Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort and embryonic and fetal measurements using 3D ultrasound and virtual reality techniques. Int J Epidemiol. 2021; 50(5):1426-1427l. PMC: 8580268. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab030. View