Particulate matter exposure, dietary inflammatory index and preterm birth in Mexico city, Mexico.

BACKGROUND

Particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM) and diet quality are risk factors for systemic inflammation, which is associated with preterm birth (PTB). PM and a pro-inflammatory diet (assessed by the Dietary Inflammatory Index [DII®]) have been individually evaluated as causes of PTB and differences by offspring sex have been reported for the DII. However, additional studies are needed to evaluate joint effects of these associations to inform intervention efforts.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the independent and joint effects of PM and energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) on PTB risks.

METHODS

PM estimates were generated from daily citywide averages for 1216 pregnant women from three subcohorts of the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants study using data from the Mexico City Outdoor Air Monitoring Network. Among a subset of participants (N = 620), E-DII scores were calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox Proportional Hazards models were run for select periods during pregnancy and entire pregnancy averages for E-DII and PM. We assessed for potential non-linear associations using natural splines.

RESULTS

In adjusted models, PM exposure was associated with increased risks of PTB for a range of values (58-72 μg/m) during the second trimester, while negative associations were seen during the second (≥74 μg/m) and third trimesters (55-65 μg/m). Analyses conducted using distributed lag models for periods closer to delivery (max lag = 90) did not show negative associations between PM exposure and preterm birth, and indeed positive significant associations were observed (estimates and figures). E-DII was not associated with PTB and there was no evidence of effect modification by infant sex. There was no evidence of interaction between PM and E-DII and the risk of preterm birth.

DISCUSSION

Associations between PM and PTB in Mexico City varied over time and across levels of PM. Our findings of negative associations in the second and third trimesters, which are contrary to the hypothesized relationship between PM and PTB, may be due to a number of factors, including live birth bias and the exposure period evaluated. Differences in results for the periods evaluated suggest that PM from shorter exposure windows may play a more proximal role in initiating preterm labor.