Journal article
Periconceptional use of weight loss products including ephedra and the association with birth defects
Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, Vol.66(8), pp.553-562
08/2008
DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20472
PMID: 18553492
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Weight loss products are frequently used by reproductive-aged women and these products may be taken (inadvertently or intentionally) during pregnancy. This study assessed the association between periconceptional use of weight loss products and major structural birth defects.
METHODS:
Mothers of infants with birth defects (case infants) and a random sample of livebirths (control infants) born during the period 1998–2003 in 10 states participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Adjusted ORs (aORs) for the association between self-reported use of weight loss products and 23 categories of birth defects were calculated.
RESULTS:
Mothers of control infants (2.4%) and 2.6% of mothers of case infants reported periconceptional use of weight loss products; 1.2% of mothers of control infants and 1.3% of mothers of case infants reported using an ephedra-containing product. Use of any weight loss product was associated with anencephaly (aOR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3–5.3), dextro-transposition of the great arteries (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1–4.3), and aortic stenosis (aOR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.5–7.9). Use of products containing ephedra showed an increased aOR with anencephaly (aOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.0–7.3), while other weight loss products were associated with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (aOR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2–2.7), and aortic stenosis (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3–3.5).
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest an association between periconceptional use of weight loss products and certain birth defects but the possible mechanism is not clear. This is the first finding of such an association and, because we examined a large number of exposure-outcome associations in a hypothesis-generating analysis, these results might have been due to chance.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Periconceptional use of weight loss products including ephedra and the association with birth defects
- Creators
- Rebecca H Bitsko - Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GeorgiaJennita Reefhuis - Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GeorgiaCarol Louik - Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, Boston, MassachusettsMartha Werler - Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University, Boston, MassachusettsMarcia L Feldkamp - Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Utah Birth Defect Network, Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UtahD. Kim Waller - The University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston, TexasJaime Frias - Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GeorgiaMargaret A Honein - Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GeorgiaNational Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Contributors
- Paul A Romitti (Contributor) - University of Iowa, Epidemiology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, Vol.66(8), pp.553-562
- Publisher
- Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
- DOI
- 10.1002/bdra.20472
- PMID
- 18553492
- ISSN
- 1542-0752
- eISSN
- 1096-9926
- Number of pages
- 10
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2008
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Biostatistics
- Record Identifier
- 9984214683202771
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