Calcium intake during pregnancy is associated with decreased risk of emotional and hyperactivity problems in five-year-old Japanese children

ABSTRACT

Background: Recently, more attention has been paid to behavioral problems in children. However, for the most part, risk factors for these problems have yet to be determined.

Objective: The current prebirth cohort study investigated the relationship between maternal calcium consumption during pregnancy and behavioral problems in five-year-old Japanese children.

Methods: Subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and peer problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Compared with the lowest quartile of maternal calcium intake, the highest was significantly associated with decreased risk of childhood emotional problems: the adjusted OR (95% CIs) was 0.46 (0.27–0.79, P for trend = 0.01). Higher maternal calcium intake during pregnancy was also independently associated with decreased risk of childhood hyperactivity problems; the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of maternal calcium intake during pregnancy were 1 (reference), 0.52 (0.31–0.84), 0.58 (0.35–0.93), and 0.60 (0.37–0.97), respectively (P for trend = 0.046). No such inverse associations were observed for childhood conduct problems or peer problems; the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the highest quartile of maternal calcium intake were 0.97 (0.64–1.47) for conduct problems and 1.11 (0.61–2.01) for peer problems.

Conclusions: Maternal calcium intake during pregnancy may decrease the risk of childhood emotional and hyperactivity problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral problems
• calcium
• child
• maternal intake
• prebirth cohort

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Kyushu Branch of the Japan Allergy Foundation, the Fukuoka Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Okinawa Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Miyazaki Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Oita Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Kumamoto Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Nagasaki Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Kagoshima Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Saga Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Fukuoka Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Okinawa Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Fukuoka City Government, and the Fukuoka City Medical Association for their valuable support, as well as Mrs. Shizuka Hasuo for her technical assistance.

KTan, YM, and MA contributed to the study concept and design and the data acquisition. HO and SS were responsible for the estimation of dietary factors. KTak and KTan were responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data and the drafting of the manuscript. YN assisted in manuscript preparation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

KTak and YN are employed by Meiji Co., Ltd, and YM and KTan were financially supported by Meiji Co. Ltd. HO, SS, and MA have no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

The ethics committees of the Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University (6 February 2002) and the Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine (25 August 2014) approved the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI [grant numbers 19590606JP, 20791654JP, 21590673JP, 22592355JP, 22119507JP, 24390158JP, 25463275JP, 25670305JP, 17K12011JP, and 17H04135JP] and by Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants for Research on Allergic Disease and Immunology and Health Research on Children, Youth and Families from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, by Meiji Co. Ltd., and by the Food Science Institute Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Keiji Takahashi

Keiji Takahashi is a postgraduate student at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine and is an employee of Meiji Co., Ltd.

Keiko Tanaka

Keiko Tanaka is an associate professor at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine.

Yoshitaka Nakamura

Yoshitaka Nakamura is an employee of Meiji Co., Ltd.

Hitomi Okubo

Hitomi Okubo is a research fellow at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine.

Satoshi Sasaki

Satoshi Sasaki is a professor at The University of Tokyo.

Masashi Arakawa

Masashi Arakawa is a professor at University of the Ryukyus.

Yoshihiro Miyake

Yoshihiro Miyake is a professor at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine.