(AL05-02-26) Paternal Preconception Adherence to a Prudent Diet Is Associated With Offspring’s Cardiometabolic Health: The CHILD Cohort Study

Objectives: We aimed to determine the impact of paternal preconception diet on offspring adiposity, obesity and blood pressure at age 8, while considering maternal factors.

Methods: We studied 1694 father-mother-child triads from the prospective Canadian CHILD Cohort Study. Paternal diet was assessed at enrolment, capturing intake over the past year, and we derived dietary patterns using Principal Components Analysis. Offspring outcomes at 8 years included BMI age- and sex-specific z-scores (zBMI), fat mass percentage (FM%), waist-to-height-ratio z-score (zW:Ht), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and obesity status (zBMI >2 SD). Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses accounted for confounders (e.g., paternal education, child birthweight, household income). These associations were further stratified by maternal prenatal BMI ( < 25 kg/m² vs ≥25 kg/m²), as a potential effect modifier.

Results: We identified two paternal dietary patterns: “Prudent” (characterized by high loadings of vegetables, fruits, seafood, legumes); and “Western-like” (fast food, meat, pasta, potatoes). At age 8, offspring’s mean (SD) zBMI was 0.21 (1.2), FM% 19.5 (6.1), zW:Ht -0.47 (1.0), SBP 103 (9) mmHg, and DBP 59 (6) mmHg, and 132 (8.0%) children were with obesity. In the multivariable-adjusted regression models, higher paternal “Prudent” diet adherence was associated with lower offspring zBMI (β –0.10, 95% CI –0.16, –0.04), FM% (β –0.67, 95% CI –1.00, –0.35), zW:Ht (β –0.11, 95% CI –0.16, –0.05), and DBP (β –0.35, 95% CI –0.66, –0.03); and, lower odds of obesity (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64, 0.93). Paternal “Prudent” diet adherence remained associated with adiposity outcomes (FM% and zW:Ht) among children of mothers with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (n=577), and was associated with DBP among children of mothers with BMI < 25 kg/m² (n=847). No consistent associations were observed for paternal “Western-like” diet, and no significant associations were observed for SBP.

Conclusions: Preconception paternal diet is associated with offspring adiposity, obesity and blood pressure, in a relationship that is moderated by maternal BMI. These findings help inform dietary guidance for both parents in preconception care, to positively impact population health and ultimately reduce the burden of cardiometabolic disease.

Funding Sources: Heart and Stroke Foundation