Breastfeeding Decreases Infant Mortality
Data analyzed by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences suggest that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of death for infants in their first year of life. Looking at infants between 28 days and one year of age, researchers concluded that promoting breastfeeding can potentially prevent up to 720 postneonatal deaths in the U.S. each year.
Oily fish makes 'babies brainier' Analysis of more than 14,000 mothers and their children suggests omega-3 fatty acids are even more important than previously realised. |
Vitamin D Supplements in Utero Linked to Better Pediatric Bones Vitamin D supplements for pregnant women could improve the bone health of their children, according to researchers in the United Kingdom. |
Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy Could Reduce Osteoporosis In Children Vitamin D supplementation of pregnant women could lead to longlasting reduction in osteoporotic fractures in their children, according to a study published in The Lancet. The study shows that children whose mothers were lacking in vitamin D during pregnancy grow up to have weaker bones. |
Doctons may not recognize infant obesity The majority of overweight children were not diagnosed and did not receive relevant and recommended evaluations and interventions, says a December, 2005 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. That means important remedies, including nutritional counseling and screening for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome, are not being performed. |
Study supports lower vitamin A supplementation Researchers have found that the World Health Organization's current recommendation for vitamin A supplementation may be too high. This agrees with much recent science indicating that taking beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor, is much safe than ingesting the pre-form vitamin directly. |
Folic Acid Reduces Defects The evidence that supplementation with folate is essential for women of child-bearing age continues to grow. A recent study in South Carolina revealed a 50% decrease in birth defects since the state began promoting folate supplementation just eight years previous. |
Being big or growing fast A systematic review of studies has shown that larger babies or those who grow more quickly than normal are at greater risk of obesity later in life. |
Babies need exercise, tooWithout proper exercise, babies may be delayed in developing life and social skills, like walking or throwing a ball. There's also hope that keeping infants active will help them avoid obesity later in life. |
Even minimal supplementation can raise birth weights antenatal supplementation with a multiple micronutrient preparation was associated with increased birthweight when compared with a standard iron and folic acid preparation. Gestational duration was not affected by supplementation. |
Pomegranate juice for moms may help babies resist brain injuryExpectant mothers at risk of premature birth may want to consider drinking pomegranate juice to help their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow, a new mouse study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests. |
Magnesium supplementation may reduce risk of cerebral palsy or death in preterm infantsPrenatal magnesium sulfate may reduce the risk of cerebral palsy or death in very preterm infants. Although minor adverse effects are common in women receiving magnesium sulfate, there do not appear to be any serious harmful effects for the women or their children. |
Dangers of Obesity Extend into the WombWomen who are obese prior to pregnancy increase the risk of birth defects to their children, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. In addition to regularly monitoring their weight gain during the course of their pregnancies, all women should be mindful of their body weight even before conceiving. |
Fatty acid supplementation in infancy reduces blood pressure later in childhoodAdding long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to infant formula milk results in lower blood pressure later in childhood. Differences in blood pressure in children tend to track through into adulthood, and so early dietary intervention may reduce cardiovascular risk in later life. |
Early exposure to cows' milk raises risk of diabetes in high risk children Cows' milk can cause an immune response to insulin, possibly leading to Type 1 ("youth") diabetes in high risk children. This study compared children who were fed cows' milk at six months or younger with those who were exclusively breast fed. |
Multivitamins improve weight gain in pregnant women with HIVA joint study by Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences in Tanzania, published in the British Medical Journal, shows many of the positive effects of multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy. |
Obesity may confound relation of early pregnancy loss to risk of heart diseaseMaternal obesity is strongly associated with pregnancy loss, at least in subfertile women,2 and is an independent contributor to risk of ischaemic heart disease. Obesity may therefore be operating as a confounding factor in the association between pregnancy loss and subsequent heart disease. |
Smoking In Pregnancy Linked To Diabetes And Obesity In Offspring Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing diabetes and obesity in later life, find researchers from Sweden in this week’s BMJ. They also show that cigarette smoking as a young adult is associated with an increased risk of subsequent diabetes. |
Ireland opts to encourage breast feeding at workIreland has joined a growing number of nations encouraging mothers to breast feed their babies as long as possible. To facilitate this healthy choice, which has been shown to have important and long-lasting benefits to children, employers will now be required to provide facilities for mothers to breast feed their babies when they return to work after childbirth. |