Tracking Down a Cause for Hypospadias: Placental Malfunction May Contribute
2008
Placental Malfunction May Contribute to Hypospadias
Sample size: 719
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Angela Spivey
Hypothesis
Does placental malfunction contribute to the risk of hypospadias?
Conclusion
The study suggests that placental insufficiency and maternal diet may increase the risk of hypospadias in baby boys.
Supporting Evidence
- Mothers without first-trimester nausea were twice as likely to have sons with hypospadias.
- A maternal diet lacking fish and meat was associated with more than a fourfold increased risk of hypospadias.
Takeaway
Hypospadias is a birth defect that may be linked to problems with the placenta and what mothers eat during pregnancy.
Methodology
Data on 292 cases of hypospadias and 427 controls were collected through questionnaires and interviews in a Danish-Swedish study.
Participant Demographics
Participants included mothers of boys with hypospadias and matched controls from national registries.
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