Hair and Cord Blood Element Levels and Their Relationship With Air Pollution, Dietary Intake, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, and Infant Neurodevelopment

The study involving 843 pregnant women examined the relationship between maternal hair and infant cord blood element levels with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and infant neurodevelopment. It found that higher concentrations of elements like Tantalum (Ta), Rhenium (Re), and Selenium (Se) in maternal hair were linked to an increased risk of GDM. Additionally, elements such as Rubidium (Rb), Erbium (Er), and Thulium (Tm) were negatively associated with infant mental development scores. The study also noted that dietary factors and air pollutants influenced element levels in maternal hair, suggesting that maternal exposure to certain elements may affect GDM risk and infant neurodevelopment. The research underscores the importance of considering environmental and dietary factors during pregnancy to potentially mitigate these risks.