Maternal consumption of caffeine and second-hand tobacco smoke as risk factors for the development of oral clefts

Highlights

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  Several environmental and genetic factors may cause oral clefts.

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  Iron supplementation use of folic acid are protective factors for oral fissures.

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  Passive smoking during pregnancy can be a risk factor for oral clefts.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this case-control study was to investigate environmental factors, such as caffeine, folic acid, nutritional iron supplementation, multivitamin complexes, alcohol, and tobacco (second-hand smoking), which have been described as risk factors for the development of oral clefts.

Methods

This case-control study employed convenience sampling and included 409 mothers: 132 with children with oral clefts (cases) and 277 with children without oral clefts (controls). The age range of the children in both groups was 0 to 2 years. A questionnaire was administered to each mother to inquire about their habits and food consumption during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Results

Folic acid supplementation was observed in 116 (87.8%) of the case group ( p < 0.001) and 271 (97.8%) of the control group. Regarding the use of ferrous sulfate, 114 (86.3%) of the case group and 271 (97.8%) of the control group reported using it. In the case group, 84 (63.6%) mothers reported being exposed to second-hand smoke, and 5 (3.7%) reported alcohol consumption ( p = 0.797). In terms of caffeine consumption, 127 mothers (95.4%) in the case group consumed it ( p = 0.13), while 247 (88.8%) reported consumption in the control group.

Conclusions

The results suggest a direct relationship between secondhand smoke, alcohol consumption, and the lack of maternal supplementation with oral clefts.