Publication:

Maternal vegetarian diet in pregnancy, a predisposition to hypospadias?

Background Hypospadias constitutes one of the commonest surgically treated patient subset in a pediatric surgery set up. The causative factors have always been multifactorial. Maternal age and diet during pregnancy have been attempted to be correlated with the prevalence of hypospadias.

Methods The current study aims to find a correlation between the rises of hypospadias with increased maternal vegetarian diet taken during pregnancy. The mothers of patients presenting with hypospadias were allotted structured self-completed questionnaires. Obstetric history, dietary patterns and lifestyle information during pregnancy was obtained.

Results The mothers of patients presenting with hypospadias who had been on a vegetarian diet had an increased incidence of babies presenting with hypospadias as shown in the chart.

Conclusions Diet during gestation may play a role in the etiology of hypospadias. Although this study is limited by less number of cases, it does show the trend of increased incidence of hypospadias amongst vegetarian mothers.