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Lawrence M. Schell,¹ Melinda Denham,² Alice D. Stark,³ Marta Gomez,³ Julia Ravenscroft,² Patrick J. Parsons,⁴ Aida Aydermir,⁵ and Renee Samelson⁶

¹Department of Epidemiology, and ²Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA; ³Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, Troy, NY, USA; ⁴Lead Poisoning/Trace Elements Laboratory Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA; ⁵Department of Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA; ⁶Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA

Abstract

To determine the influences of maternal diet and nutrition during pregnancy on the blood lead level of neonates, we conducted a study of mother-infant pairs from lower socioeconomic circumstances living in Albany County, New York. Maternal blood lead (MBPb) , anthropometry, and diet were assessed in each trimester. Neonates' blood lead (NBPb) levels were low (geometric mean = 1.58 µg/dL) , and none had elevated blood lead. More than 50% of the mothers had intakes below the recommended dietary allowances for zinc, calcium, iron, vitamin D, and kilocalories. As expected, MBPb was strongly and positively related to NBPb. Among the anthropometric measures of maternal nutritional status, variables measuring gain in weight and arm circumference were negatively related to NBPb. In multivariable models reflecting different analytic strageties and including MBPb, anthropometry, and sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intakes of iron and vitamin D were negatively related to NBPb. The effect of zinc varied substantially depending on model covariates. Effects of dietary constituents are difficult to distinguish, given the intercorrelated nature of nutrients in the diet. Nevertheless, the influences of maternal anthropometric variables, iron, and vitamin D on neonatal lead levels are clear in our analyses. Key words: anthropometry, calcium, children, diet, iron, lead, neonates, nutrition, zinc. Environ Health Perspect 111:195-200 (2003) . doi:10.1289/ehp.5592 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 28 October 2002]