Summary
This methodological study presents a regularized two-stage Bayesian mediation analysis framework to disentangle direct and indirect pathways linking maternal dietary exposures during pregnancy to childhood adiposity. Applied to the Danish National Birth Cohort, the approach identified 6 significant maternal risk factors affecting childhood BMI z-score at age 7, demonstrating how statistical regularization can select parsimonious causal pathways to guide prevention programme development.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in Denmark using the Danish National Birth Cohort, so findings apply directly to Danish populations. The methodological approach is transferable to United Kingdom cohort studies (such as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children or UK Biobank), though effect estimates would require independent validation in UK populations with potentially different maternal dietary patterns and healthcare contexts.
Key measures
Childhood body mass index z-score at age 7; maternal dietary factors; direct and indirect effects through multiple mediators
Outcomes reported
The study identified 6 significant maternal risk factors that either directly or indirectly affected childhood body mass index z-score at age 7, using a regularized mediation analysis approach. The analysis examined pathways through which maternal diet during pregnancy influences offspring adiposity.
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