Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40014588›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Association between prenatal exposure to maternal metal and trace elements and Streptococcus infection: A prospective birth cohort in the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Hiroyoshi Iwata, Atsuko Ikeda, Mariko Itoh, Rahel Mesfin Ketema, Naomi Tamura, Takeshi Yamaguchi, Keiko Yamazaki, Rieko Yamamoto, Maki Tojo, Yu Ait Bamai and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Hiroyoshi IwataCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6949-0795
Atsuko IkedaCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3065-262X
Mariko ItohCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Rahel Mesfin KetemaCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Naomi TamuraCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2116-4023
Takeshi YamaguchiCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6329-0437
Keiko YamazakiCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2027-8758
Rieko YamamotoCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Maki TojoCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Yu Ait BamaiCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Yasuaki SaijoDepartment of Social Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6211-8202
Yoshiya ItoFaculty of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing, Kitami, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7905-6661
Reiko KishiCenter for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan.
Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStreptococcus infection is a common and potentially severe bacterial infection which remains a global public health challenge, underscoring the necessity of investigating potential risk factors.

aimsThe present study aims to assess the association between metal and trace element exposure and Streptococcus infection using a prospective nationwide birth cohort, the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

methodsThe JECS obtained data from over 100,000 pregnancies through 15 Regional Centres across Japan. We assessed toxic metal and trace element levels among pregnant mothers and Streptococcus infection among their children, born between 2011 and 2014, at age three to four. Analysis was performed using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions, as well as Quantile g-computation. We also conducted quartile regressions to assess the effects of higher serum selenium levels and potential interactions between selenium and mercury.

resultsAmong 74,434 infants and their mothers, univariable and multivariable regression analyses found that selenium and mercury each had an inverse association with Streptococcus infection incidence. Quantile g-computation analysis yielded results consistent with the primary regression analyses. Quartile regression suggested that serum selenium levels above the third quartile were inversely associated with later Streptococcus infection incidence, but no interaction between selenium and mercury was found.

conclusionsThese findings imply that maternal selenium exposure may have protective effects on Streptococcus infection among children. Further studies should explore the role of pediatric selenium in immune responses to infectious diseases, especially Streptococcus infection.

Indexed as

Maternal ExposureMetalsPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsStreptococcal InfectionsTrace ElementsAdultBirth CohortChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornJapanMaleMercuryPregnancyProspective StudiesMercuryMetalsSeleniumTrace Elements

Identifiers

PMID40014588
PMCPMC11867319

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.