Could what you eat during pregnancy affect whether your baby develops colic or eczema? A new study suggests there may be a connection, particularly when both conditions occur together.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined more than 1,300 mother-baby pairs and found that women who followed a Mediterranean-style diet more closely during pregnancy were less likely to have babies who experienced both colic and eczema. However, researchers did not find the same association with either condition on its own, and the study doesn't prove that diet was responsible.
Colic involves episodes of intense crying that can be difficult to soothe, while eczema causes itchy, inflamed skin. Both are common concerns for new parents, and previous research has linked them to an increased likelihood of allergies later in childhood.
Researchers examined eating habits reported by pregnant women participating in a long-running Massachusetts study. They looked at overall diet quality, including how closely participants followed a Mediterranean-style eating pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, fish and healthy fats.
Among the 1,324 babies studied, about 1 in 4 experienced colic, while roughly 5% had both colic and eczema.
Women whose diets more closely resembled the Mediterranean pattern were less likely to have babies with both conditions. Diets higher in foods such as processed meats, sugary drinks and refined grains were associated with a greater likelihood of both occurring together.
Seafood was another notable finding. Each additional weekly serving of fish or shellfish during pregnancy was associated with 25% lower odds of babies experiencing both colic and eczema. That doesn't mean eating more seafood will prevent either condition, but it raises questions about whether certain dietary habits during pregnancy may influence infant health.
“Our findings provide yet another reason to help pregnant women achieve a healthy, balanced diet, with a particular emphasis on eating seafood,” said Dr. Emily Oken of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, the study's lead author.
There are important limitations. Only 61 babies experienced both conditions, and researchers relied on mothers' reports of their diets and their babies' health. Other factors could also help explain the findings.
The researchers found no clear association between eating eggs, dairy or nuts during pregnancy and the combination of colic and eczema.
For now, the findings offer another reason to value a balanced diet during pregnancy, but they don't establish that changing what you eat can prevent a baby from developing colic or eczema.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and an anonymous donor to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Several researchers reported financial relationships with pharmaceutical, allergy-related and infant nutrition companies outside the submitted study.