Adverse associations between maternal deoxynivalenol exposure and birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study in China

Tianqi Tan; Tingting Chen; Wenwen Zhu; Lin Gong; Yizhong Yan; Qian Li; Li Chen; Yiling Li; Jialin Liu; Yanan Li; Xuefeng Yang; Liping Hao; Huaiji Wang; Nianhong Yang; Sheng Wei

doi:10.1186/s12916-023-03011-5

Adverse associations between maternal deoxynivalenol exposure and birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study in China

BMC Med. 2023 Aug 28;21(1):328. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-03011-5.

Authors

Tianqi Tan¹, Tingting Chen², Wenwen Zhu¹, Lin Gong¹, Yizhong Yan², Qian Li¹, Li Chen¹, Yiling Li², Jialin Liu², Yanan Li², Xuefeng Yang¹, Liping Hao¹, Huaiji Wang³, Nianhong Yang⁴, Sheng Wei⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
³ Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute of Environmental Health, 288 Machang Road, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China. hj@whcdc.org.
⁴ Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China. zynh@mails.tjmu.edu.cn.
⁵ School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China. weis@sustech.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most prevalent mycotoxins, has been found to cause fetal growth retardation in animals. However, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on pregnant women.

Methods: Maternal urinary concentration of total DON (tDON) and free DON (fDON) in the second trimester was measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Provisional daily intake (PDI) of DON was calculated based on tDON concentration. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between DON exposure levels and birth weight, birth length, and the risk of small for gestational age (SGA).

Results: Among 1538 subjects, the median concentrations of tDON and fDON were 12.1 ng/mL and 5.1 ng/mL, respectively. The PDI values revealed that the median DON intake was 0.7 µg/kg bw, and 35.9% of the total population exceeded the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 1 µg/kg bw. Compared with the lowest tertile, birth weight decreased by 81.11 g (95% CI: -127.00, -35.23) for tDON (P-trend < 0.001) and 63.02 g (95% CI: -108.72, -17.32) for fDON (P-trend = 0.004) in the highest tertile. Each unit increase in Ln-tDON and Ln-fDON was also inversely associated with birth weight. Furthermore, compared to those who did not exceed PMTDI, pregnant women whose PDI exceeded PMTDI had lower birth weight (β = -79.79 g; 95% CI: -119.09, -40.49) and birth length (β = -0.21 cm; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.07), and a higher risk of SGA (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.15) in their offspring. Similar associations with birth weight, birth length, and SGA were found when comparing the highest tertile of PDI to the lowest tertile (all P-trend < 0.05).

Conclusions: Maternal DON exposure is related to decreased birth weight. Our findings implicate that DON exposure during pregnancy may cause fetal growth faltering, and measures should be taken to reduce DON exposure in pregnant women.

Keywords: Birth weight; Cohort study; Deoxynivalenol; Pregnant women; Small for gestational age.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Birth Weight
China / epidemiology
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation*
Humans
Parturition*
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies

Substances

deoxynivalenol