NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The increasingly prevalent birth defect gastroschisis is not related to intake of individual nutrients by mothers, researchers report in a March 11th on-line paper in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

“Though proper nutrition is very important prior to and during pregnancy, we did not find any difference in individual nutrients that might contribute to the risk of gastroschisis,” Dr. Marcia L. Feldkamp told Reuters Health by email.

Dr. Feldkamp of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City and colleagues note that information on gastroschisis and nutrition is scarce but there is some indication of a possible relationship.

To investigate further, the team analyzed data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, which has been ongoing since 1992. In all 694 cases of gastroschisis in the offspring were compared with 6,157 randomly selected controls without malformation.

Nutrient intake for the year prior to conception was estimated from responses to a 58-item food frequency questionnaire and reported cereal consumption. The participants were also stratified by maternal age, preconception body mass index, folic acid-containing supplements, and energy intake.

“The risk of gastroschisis was little influenced by preconceptional intakes of any micronutrient, macronutrient, amino acid, or fatty acid,