Affiliation:
1. Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
2. Maternity Clinic, Cork University Maternity Hospital, T12 YE02 Cork, Ireland
3. School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
4. Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), a multi-causal syndrome, is one of the global epidemics. Maternal nutrition, but also neonatal and placental telomere length (TL), are among the factors affecting PTB risk. However, the exact relationship between these factors and the PTB outcome, remains obscure. The aim of this review was to investigate the association between PTB, maternal nutrition, and placental-infant TL. Observational studies were sought with the keywords: maternal nutrition, placental TL, newborn, TL, and PTB. No studies were found that included all of the keywords simultaneously, and thus, the keywords were searched in dyads, to reach assumptive conclusions. The findings show that maternal nutrition affects PTB risk, through its influence on maternal TL. On the other hand, maternal TL independently affects PTB risk, and at the same time PTB is a major determinant of offspring TL regulation. The strength of the associations, and the extent of the influence from covariates, remains to be elucidated in future research. Furthermore, the question of whether maternal TL is simply a biomarker of maternal nutritional status and PTB risk, or a causative factor of PTB, to date, remains to be answered.
Funder
European University Cyprus
Subject
Food Science,Nutrition and Dietetics
Reference177 articles.
1. World Health Organization (2023, October 09). Preterm Birth, Fact Sheet. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth#:~:text=Across%20countries%2C%20the%20rate%20of,of%20babies%20born%20in%202020.
2. Epidemiology and causes of PTB;Goldenberg;Lancet,2008
3. Wagura, P., Wasunna, A., Laving, A., Wamalwa, D., and Ng’ang’a, P. (2018). Prevalence and factors associated with PTB at Kenyatta national hospital. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 18.
4. Suman, V., and Luther, E. (2023, August 10). Preterm Labor, Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536939/.
5. Placental insufficiency is a leading cause of preterm labor;Morgan;NeoReviews,2014