Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 7/27/11.  You should consult your doctor if you are taking any medications.

I finally got around to updating my olive oil mayonnaise video.  Click here.

10 Top-Selling Drugs Coming Off Patent - ABC News, 7/25/11 - "could cost up to 80 percent less ... Plavix ... Lipitor ... Seroquel ... Actos ... Enbrel ... Levaquin ... Zyprexa ...Concerta ... Protonix"

Heavy metal: Titanium implant safety under scrutiny - Science Daily, 7/25/11 - "Titanium implants are routinely used for bone fractures as well as dental work. It has recently been shown that titanium-based implants both corrode and degrade, generating metallic debris. There is some concern over the increased concentrations of circulating metal-degradation products derived from these implants, and their potential harmful biological effects over a period of time, including hepatic injury and renal lesions"

Exercise has numerous beneficial effects on brain health and cognition, review suggests - Science Daily, 7/25/11 - "In a new review article highlighting the results of more than a hundred recent human and animal studies on this topic, Michelle W. Voss, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her colleagues show that both aerobic exercise and strength training play a vital role in maintaining brain and cognitive health throughout life ... The review suggests that aerobic exercise is important for getting a head start during childhood on cognitive abilities that are important throughout life. For example, physical inactivity is associated with poorer academic performance and results on standard neuropsychological tests, while exercise programs appear to improve memory, attention, and decision-making. These effects also extend to young and elderly adults, with solid evidence for aerobic training benefiting executive functions, including multi-tasking, planning, and inhibition, and increasing the volume of brain structures important for memory"

Bathing water at Vegas ‘dayclubs’ has ‘a lot of urine,’ some bacteria - The Daily, 7/24/11 - "Pee in the pool is bad, but germs are worse, and that’s what our testers found at Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel, where water samples tested positive for a bacterium called acintobacter. While not usually considered to be dangerous, strains of the organism can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and skin infections" - Note:  Below the first picture is an icon to go to the second picture which has a graph of the pee factor.

Omega-3 Supplements May Lower Anxiety - Medscape, 7/22/11 - "In a small randomized controlled trial of medical students, those who received omega-3 supplements for 3 months showed a 20% reduction in anxiety scores and a 14% reduction in stimulated interleukin 6 (IL-6) production ... Chronic inflammation has been linked to a broad spectrum of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis ... A total of 68 first- and second-year medical students (56% male; mean age, 23.65 years) were enrolled and randomized to receive 3 times daily either omega-3 supplement capsules (consisting of 2085 mg of EPA and 348 mg of DHA, n = 34) or fish-flavored placebo capsules (n = 34) for 12 weeks ... We chose the 7:1 EPA/DHA balance because of evidence that EPA has relatively stronger anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects than DHA" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.

A novel and potent antioxidant found in tomato plants, initial results suggest - Science Daily, 7/22/11 - "A team of researchers from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP) -a joint centre of the Universitat Politècnica de València and CSIC, the Spanish National Research Council- have identified a novel and potent natural antioxidant occurring in tomato plants. It is a phenolic substance that is synthesised by the tomato plant when it is subjected to biotic stress. Until now, it was completely unknown ... The UPV and CSIC have registered the national and international patents of the new antioxidant and the laboratory procedures used to isolate and synthesise it chemically ... the antioxidant power of the new compound is much higher -14 times higher, to be precise- than, for example, that of resveratrol, a well-known antioxidant, found in red wine, which can delay cellular aging. In addition, it is 4.5 times more potent than vitamin E and 10 times more potent than vitamin C" - Note:  The patent thing makes you wonder if the claims are overblown though.

The Body Odd - Creative types are full of themselves, study confirms - MSNBC, 7/21/11 - "While the creative personality has many appealing traits -- being curious, broad-minded, and open to new experiences -- it has a few unappealing ones, like less modesty and more arrogance"

Metabolic syndrome increases risk of both major types of primary liver cancer - Science Daily, 7/21/11 - "metabolic syndrome was present in 37% of persons who subsequently developed HCC and 30% of persons who developed ICC, compared to 17% of persons who didn't develop either cancer. Analyses showed metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with increased risk of HCC (odds ratio=2.13) and ICC (odds ratio=1.56). Individual components of metabolic syndrome -- impaired fasting glucose level, dyslipoproteinemia, obesity and hypertension -- were more common among persons who developed either HCC or ICC patients than among persons who did not"

Caffeine consumption linked to female infertility, study suggests - Science Daily, 7/20/11 - "By studying tubes from mice, Ward and his team discovered that caffeine stops the actions of specialized pacemaker cells in the wall of the tubes. These cells coordinate tube contractions so that when they are inhibited, eggs can't move down the tubes. In fact these muscle contractions play a bigger role than the beating cilia in moving the egg towards the womb ... This provides an intriguing explanation as to why women with high caffeine consumption often take longer to conceive than women who do not consume caffeine"

Exercise Sharpens Older Minds - WebMD, 7/20/11 - "Two new studies add to growing evidence that physical activity helps to keep older people's brains sharp ... women in the highest two-fifths of physical activity had substantially lower rates of cognitive decline than women in the lowest exercise bracket ... In the second study, researchers used a more objective measure of energy expended during physical activity, employing the so-called doubly labeled water technique to determine how much water a person loses ... Over the next two to five years, those in the highest third of energy expenditure were substantially less likely to develop clinical cognitive impairment than those in the lowest third ... About 2% of people in the highest third suffered declines in cognitive function, compared with 5% in the middle third and 17% in the lowest third"

Listen up! Antioxidants may slash risk of hearing loss, says study - Nutra USA, 7/19/11 - "People with the highest average intakes of vitamin A had a 47 percent reduced risk of moderate or greater hearing loss, compared to people with the lowest average intakes ... In addition, increasing dietary vitamin E intakes were linked with a 14 percent reduction in hearing loss"

Abstracts from this week's Doctor's Guide Nutrition/Dietetics plus abstracts from my RSS feeds (Click here for the journals, the PubMed ones at the top):

Increased Consumption of Dairy Foods and Protein during Diet- and Exercise-Induced Weight Loss Promotes Fat Mass Loss and Lean Mass Gain in Overweight and Obese Premenopausal Women - J Nutr. 2011 Jul 20 - "Weight loss can have substantial health benefits for overweight or obese persons; however, the ratio of fat:lean tissue loss may be more important. We aimed to determine how daily exercise (resistance and/or aerobic) and a hypoenergetic diet varying in protein and calcium content from dairy foods would affect the composition of weight lost in otherwise healthy, premenopausal, overweight, and obese women. Ninety participants were randomized to 3 groups (n = 30/group): high protein, high dairy (HPHD), adequate protein, medium dairy (APMD), and adequate protein, low dairy (APLD) differing in the quantity of total dietary protein and dairy food-source protein consumed: 30 and 15%, 15 and 7.5%, or 15 and <2% of energy, respectively. Body composition was measured by DXA at 0, 8, and 16 wk and MRI (n = 39) to assess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume at 0 and 16 wk. All groups lost body weight (P < 0.05) and fat (P < 0.01); however, fat loss during wk 8-16 was greater in the HPHD group than in the APMD and APLD groups (P < 0.05). The HPHD group gained lean tissue with a greater increase during 8-16 wk than the APMD group, which maintained lean mass and the APLD group, which lost lean mass (P < 0.05). The HPHD group also lost more VAT as assessed by MRI (P < 0.05) and trunk fat as assessed by DXA (P < 0.005) than the APLD group. The reduction in VAT in all groups was correlated with intakes of calcium (r = 0.40; P < 0.05) and protein (r = 0.32; P < 0.05). Therefore, diet- and exercise-induced weight loss with higher protein and increased dairy product intakes promotes more favorable body composition changes in women characterized by greater total and visceral fat loss and lean mass gain" - Note:  See the yogurt recipe on my yogurt page.

Dutasteride Improves Outcomes of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia When Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction: Secondary Analysis of the REduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) Trial - Urology. 2011 Jul 14 - "During the 4-year study, the International Prostate Symptom Score increased in placebo-treated patients, while dutasteride-treated patients had a stabilized or decreased International Prostate Symptom Score and improved BPH Impact Index and quality of life due to urinary symptom scores across all prostate volume quintiles (including prostate glands smaller than those studied in previous dutasteride trials). 48 months, the incidence of acute urinary retention or BPH-related surgery was significantly less in the dutasteride group (2.5%) than in the placebo group (9%) overall (P < .001) and in each baseline prostate volume quintile (P < .01)" - See dutasteride at OffshoreRx1.com.

Meat Consumption and Risk of Lung Cancer Among Never-Smoking Women - Nutr Cancer. 2011 Jul 20 - "Among these never smokers, fruit and vegetable intake were inversely associated with lung cancer risk. Seventy-two percent of meat consumed was white meat (chicken or fish). Meat consumption overall was inversely associated with lung cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.88, 0.59 for second, third tertiles, P (trend) = .012]. An inverse relationship between fish consumption and lung cancer (adjusted OR, 0.81, 0.47 for 2nd, 3rd tertiles, P (trend) < .001) was observed. No association was seen between consumption of processed meats and lung cancer, nor between dietary heterocyclic amines and lung cancer. Our data suggest that fish consumption may be protective against lung cancer in never smokers"

Impact of Consumption of Vegetable, Fruit, Grain, and High Glycemic Index Foods on Aggressive Prostate Cancer Risk - Nutr Cancer. 2011 Jul 20 - "Here we further investigate such potential relationships with a case-control study of 982 men (470 more aggressive prostate cancer cases and 512 control subjects). Comparing the highest to lowest quartiles of intake, we found that increasing intakes of leafy vegetables were inversely associated with risk of aggressive prostate cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.96; P trend = 0.02], as was higher consumption of high carotenoid vegetables (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.48, 1.04; P trend = 0.04). Conversely, increased consumption of high glycemic index foods were positively associated with risk of aggressive disease (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.57; P trend = 0.02). These results were driven by a number of specific foods within the food groups. Our findings support the hypothesis that diets high in vegetables and low in high glycemic index foods decrease risk of aggressive prostate cancer"

Effect of valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial - Menopause. 2011 Jul 14 - "About 50% of postmenopausal women experience sleep disturbances such as insomnia ... A randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial design was used for this study. Participants consisted of 100 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 years who were experiencing insomnia. A demographic data form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to collect data. The women were randomly divided into two groups. Each group received either 530 mg of concentrated valerian extract or a placebo twice a day for 4 weeks. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data ... A statistically significant change was reported in the quality of sleep of the intervention group in comparison with the placebo group (P < 0.001). Also, 30% of the participants in the intervention group and 4% in the placebo group showed an improvement in the quality of sleep" - Note:  My sleep combo is two Nature's Way, Valerian Nighttime, Odor Free, 100 Tablets, one Jarrow Formulas, Theanine 200, 200 mg, 60 Capsules and three Source Naturals, Melatonin, Peppermint Flavored Sublingual, 1 mg, 300 Tablets.

Retinol, vitamins A, C, and E and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression - Cancer Causes Control. 2011 Jul 15 - "Overall, 51 studies met the inclusion criteria. Comparing the highest with the lowest intake, total vitamin A intake reduced the breast cancer risk by 17% (pooled OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.78-0.88). Further subgroup analysis based on study design did not change the significant reduction. Although the dietary vitamin A, dietary vitamin E, and total vitamin E intake all reduced breast cancer risk significantly when data from all studies were pooled, the results became nonsignificant when data from cohort studies were pooled. The significant association between total retinol intake and breast cancer in all studies became nonsignificant in case-control studies but remain significant in cohort studies. No significant dose-response relationship was observed in the higher intake of these vitamins with reduced breast cancer risk"

The association between height and prostate cancer grade in the Early Stage Prostate Cancer Cohort Study - Causes Control. 2011 Jul 20 - "Overall, participants in the highest quartile of height were more than twice as likely to have a Gleason score ≥ 7 (4 + 3) than participants in the lowest quartile of height, OR 2.14 (95% CI 1.11, 4.14), after multivariate adjustment. Participants in the highest quartile of height were more likely to be diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer than participants in the lowest quartile of height among participants who were black, OR 8.00 (95% CI 1.99, 32.18), and participants who had diabetes mellitus, OR 5.09 (95% CI 1.30, 19.98)"

Fish intake and type 2 diabetes in Japanese men and women: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul 20 - "During the 5-y period, 971 new cases (572 men and 399 women) of type 2 diabetes were self-reported. In men, fish intake was significantly associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes; multivariable-adjusted ORs of type 2 diabetes for the highest compared with the lowest quartile of intake were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.00; P-trend = 0.04) for total fish and seafood and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.92; P-trend = 0.016) for small and medium fish (horse mackerel and sardine, saury and mackerel, and eel). Additional analysis by fat content of fish did not detect any significant association for each category. In women, fish intake was not appreciably associated with type 2 diabetes risk" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.

French adults' cognitive performance after daily supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals at nutritional doses: a post hoc analysis of the Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants (SU.VI.MAX) trial - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul 20 - "This study included 4447 French participants aged 45-60 y who were enrolled in the SU.VI.MAX study (1994-2002), which was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. From 1994 to 2002, participants received daily vitamin C (120 mg), β-carotene (6 mg), vitamin E (30 mg), selenium (100 μg), and zinc (20 mg) in combination or as a placebo. In 2007-2009, the cognitive performance of participants was assessed with 4 neuropsychological tests (6 tasks). Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed to identify cognitive-function summary scores. Associations between antioxidant supplementation and cognitive functions, in the full sample and by subgroups, were estimated through ANOVA and expressed as mean differences and 95% CIs. Subgroup analyses were performed according to baseline characteristics ... Subjects receiving active antioxidant supplementation had better episodic memory scores (mean difference: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.02, 1.20). PCA indicated 2 factors that were interpreted as showing verbal memory and executive functioning. Verbal memory was improved by antioxidant supplementation only in subjects who were nonsmokers or who had low serum vitamin C concentrations at baseline"

Dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jul 20 - "We identified 10 prospective cohort studies of dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer involving 16,848 cases and 712,195 participants. The combined RR of breast cancer for the highest compared with the lowest dietary fiber intake was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.96), and little evidence of heterogeneity was observed. The association between dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer did not significantly differ by geographic region, length of follow-up, or menopausal status of the participants. Omission of any single study little changed the combined risk estimate. Dose-response analysis showed that every 10-g/d increment in dietary fiber intake was associated with a significant 7% reduction in breast cancer risk. Little evidence of publication bias was found"

Sucrose, high-sugar foods and risk of endometrial cancer - a population-based cohort study - Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011 Jul 15 - "During 18.4 years of follow-up, 729 participants were diagnosed with incident endometrial cancer. Total sucrose intake and consumption of sweet buns and cookies was associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer. RRs (with 95% CIs) for consuming more than 35 grams of sucrose/day and consuming sweet buns and cookies more than 3 times/week were 1.36 (1.04-1.77) and 1.42 (1.15-1.75) as compared to less than 15 grams of sucrose/day and consuming sweet buns and cookies less than 0.5 times/week, respectively. RRs for consuming more than 15 grams of sucrose/day as compared to 15 grams or less were 1.97 (1.27-3.04) among obese women and 1.56 (1.20-2.04) among women with low fat intake"

Effect of Dietary Protein Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Randomized, Controlled Trial - Circulation. 2011 Jul 18 - "The trial participants were assigned to take 40 g/d soy protein, milk protein, or carbohydrate supplementation each for 8 weeks in a random order. A 3-week washout period was implemented between the interventions. Three BPs were measured at 2 baseline and 2 termination visits during each of 3 intervention phases with a random-zero sphygmomanometer. Compared with carbohydrate controls, soy protein and milk protein supplementations were significantly associated with -2.0 mm Hg (95% confidence interval -3.2 to -0.7 mm Hg, P=0.002) and -2.3 mm Hg (-3.7 to -1.0 mm Hg, P=0.0007) net changes in systolic BP, respectively. Diastolic BP was also reduced, but this change did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in the BP reductions achieved between soy or milk protein supplementation"

Endogenous subclinical thyroid disorders, physical and cognitive function, depression and mortality in older individuals - Eur J Endocrinol. 2011 Jul 18 - "To what extent endogenous subclinical thyroid disorders contribute to impaired physical and cognitive function, depression and mortality in older individuals remains a matter of debate ... Participants with overt thyroid disease or use of thyroid medication were excluded ... Sixty-four (5.3%) individuals had subclinical hypothyroidism and 34 (2.8%) had subclinical hyperthyroidism. As compared to euthyroidism (n=1121), subclinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism were not significantly associated with impairment of physical or cognitive function, or depression. On the contrary, participants with subclinical hypothyroidism did less often report more than one activity limitation (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22 to 0.86). After a median follow-up of 10.7 years 601 participants were deceased. Subclinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism were not associated with increased overall mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.89 , 95% CI 0.59 to 1.35 and 0.69, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.20, respectively). Conclusions. The present study does not support disadvantageous effects of subclinical thyroid disorders on physical or cognitive function, depression or mortality in an older population"

Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery - Am J Cardiol. 2011 Jul 13 - "Two hundred patients were randomized to receive fish oil (providing 4.6 g/day of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids) or a control oil starting 3 weeks before surgery; 194 subjects completed the study, with 47 of 97 subjects in the control group and 36 of 97 subjects in the fish oil group developing AF (odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35 to 1.11). There was a nonstatistically significant delay in time to onset of AF in the fish oil group (hazard ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.01). There was a significant decrease in mean length of stay in the intensive care unit in the fish oil group (ratio of means 0.71, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.90). In conclusion, in a mixed cardiac surgery population, supplementation with dietary fish oil did not result in a significant decrease in the incidence of postsurgical AF. However, there was a significant decrease in time spent in the intensive care unit" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.

Neat Tech Stuff / "How To's":

Health Focus (Pregnancy):

Recommendations:

• Prenatal supplements at iHerb

Alternative News:

• Pre-pregnancy diet affects the health of future offspring, mouse study suggests - Science Daily, 7/1/11 - "mice that were fed a low protein diet for ten weeks before conception (but had a normal diet during pregnancy) gave birth to offspring that had lower birth weights, showed catch-up growth after weaning and increased insulin sensitivity ... There is also evidence that male offspring are more likely to develop obesity ... If humans respond in the same way as mice to pre-conception diet as well then women should not only consider what they eat during pregnancy but also before pregnancy if they want to reduce the risk of their future children acquiring lifestyle diseases"
• Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: Double blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and effectiveness - J Bone Miner Res. 2011 Jun 27 - "Vitamin D supplementation of 4,000 IU/day for pregnant women was safe and most effective in achieving sufficiency in all women and their neonates regardless of race while the current estimated average requirement was comparatively ineffective at achieving adequate circulating 25(OH)D, especially in African Americans" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Vitamin D supplements found to be safe for healthy pregnant women - Science Daily, 6/24/11 - "Dr Hollis' team monitored the pregnancies of 350 women, from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, who were all between 12 and 16 weeks into gestation. The women were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received 400 IU of vitamin D per day, the second group received 2,000 IU per day and the third received 4,000 IU daily ... women who received the highest level of supplementation (4,000 IU per day) were more likely to achieve and sustain the desired level of circulating levels of vitamin D throughout their pregnancy. Moreover, the researchers found that pregnant women who received lower levels of vitamin D supplementation did not attain the threshold circulating level of the vitamin" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Undernourishment in pregnant, lactating females found key to next generation's disease - Science Daily, 6/13/11 - "when mothers are even moderately undernourished while pregnant and breastfeeding, their offspring are consistently found to be prediabetic before adolescence. It is the first time that diabetes has been shown to have prenatal origins in a primate model ... We pass more biological milestones before we are born and in the early weeks of life than at any other time ... Poor nutrition at critical periods of development can hinder growth of essential organs such as the pancreas, which sees a significantly decrease in its ability to secrete insulin ... A fetus may also receive fewer nutrients due to teenage pregnancy, where the growing mother competes with her offspring for resources; in pregnancies complicated by maternal vascular disease, which may occur in women who become pregnant later in their reproductive life; and when placental problems exist"
• B vitamins in mother's diet reduce colorectal cancer risk in offspring, animal study suggests - Science Daily, 6/9/11 - "Using a mouse model of naturally occurring colorectal cancer, the USDA HNRCA scientists examined whether a mothers' B vitamin intake impacts her offspring's cancer risk. Mothers were fed diets containing supplemental, adequate or mildly deficient quantities of vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folate prior to conception through weaning after which all of the offspring received the same adequate diet ... Although the tumor incidence was similar between offspring of deficient and adequate mothers, 54% of tumors in the deficient offspring were advanced and had invaded surrounding tissue while only 18% of tumors in the offspring of adequate mothers displayed these aggressive properties" - See prenatal supplements at Amazon.com.
• Breast cancer research: Mammary gland development of blueberry-fed lab animals studied - Science Daily, 6/7/11 - "several indicators of rat mammary gland health were improved in the offspring (pups) of mothers (dams) that had been fed 5 percent blueberry powder in their rations during pregnancy and during the weeks that they nursed their pups ... In their analysis of several biochemical indicators, the team found, for instance, that the level of the tumor-suppressing protein PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10) was significantly higher in mammary tissues of offspring of dams on the 5 percent regimen. That's a plus, because PTEN is thought to help protect against cancer" - See blueberry extract at Amazon.com.
• Folic acid given to mother rats protects offspring from colon cancer - Science Daily, 5/26/11 - "Folic acid supplements given to pregnant and breast-feeding rats reduced the rate of colon cancer in their offspring by 64 per cent" - See folic acid products at Amazon.com.
• High-fat diet during pregnancy programs child for future diabetes, study suggests - Science Daily, 5/26/11
• Women who start prenatal vitamins early are less likely to have children with autism, study finds - Science Daily, 5/25/11 - "Women who reported not taking a daily prenatal vitamin immediately before and during the first month of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder as women who did take the supplements -- and the associated risk rose to seven times as great when combined with a high-risk genetic make-up ... The authors postulate that folic acid, the synthetic form of folate or vitamin B9, and the other B vitamins in prenatal supplements, likely protect against deficits in early fetal brain development. Folate is known to be critical to neurodevelopment and studies have found that supplemental folic acid has the potential to prevent up to 70 percent of neural tube defects, the authors said"
• Dietary Supplement May Help Prevent Preeclampsia - WebMD, 5/19/11 - "women who ate daily food bars containing the amino acid L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins during pregnancy had a much lower incidence of preeclampsia than women who ate bars containing the antioxidant vitamins alone or bars containing neither supplement ... far fewer of the women in the L-arginine plus vitamin group developed preeclampsia (12.7%) than women in the vitamin-alone (22.5%) group and no-supplement (30.2%) group" - See L-arginine products at Amazon.com.
• Low Vitamin D at Birth Linked to Lung Infections - WebMD, 5/10/11 - "At birth, more than a quarter of the infants had low vitamin D -- serum levels of less than 20 ng/mL. During their first year of life, these kids had a sixfold higher risk of RSV lung infection than did the 46% of kids whose vitamin D levels at birth were at least 30 ng/mL ... It's not just the Netherlands. Other Western nations, including the U.S., have similar rates of low vitamin D ... U.S. researchers reported in 2010 that at a single Boston hospital, 58% of infants and 36% of mothers had low vitamin D levels (under 20 ng/mL). Severe vitamin D deficiency (defined as lower than 15 ng/mL) was seen in 38% of the infants and in 23% of the mothers" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Omega-3 status in pregnancy linked to childhood obesity: Study - Nutra USA, 5/6/11 - "A higher ratio of cord plasma omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was associated with higher subscapular and triceps [skinfold thicknesses] and odds of obesity ... around one fifth expectant mothers ate more than 2 fish meals per week at mid-pregnancy, however only about half of these women achieved the recommend intake of DHA of 200 mg per day ... Only three per cent of pregnant women in the study were found to consume the recommended intake of 200 mg/day of DHA in the last month of pregnancy ... this is the time when large amounts of DHA are transferred from the mother to the infant to support brain development ... the odds of obesity in 3-year-olds were between two and four times higher when cord blood had a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ... In contrast, the odds of obesity were 32 per cent lower when maternal consumption of omega-3s was high or if the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 was at close to recommended levels" - [Abstract] - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Prenatal DHA Status and Neurological Outcome in Children at Age 5.5 Years Are Positively Associated - J Nutr. 2011 Apr 27 - "Healthy pregnant women from Spain, Germany, and Hungary were randomly assigned to a dietary supplement consisting of either fish oil (FO) (500 mg/d DHA + 150 mg/d EPA), 400 μg/d 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, both, or placebo from wk 20 of gestation until delivery ... We conclude that higher DHA levels in cord blood may be related to a better neurological outcome at 5.5 y of age" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Consumption of a DHA-containing functional food during pregnancy is associated with lower infant ponderal index and cord plasma insulin concentration - Br J Nutr. 2011 Apr 27:1-5 - "DHA consumption during pregnancy may be advantageous with respect to infant body composition at birth and insulin sensitivity" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Omega-3 consumed during pregnancy curbs risk for postpartum depression symptoms - Science Daily, 4/12/11 - "maternal consumption of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; a prominent omega-3 fatty acid) during pregnancy gives infants a developmental advantage even 9 months after they are born. These findings prompted her to consider the benefits that DHA could holistically have on the maternal-infant dyad ... randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dietary intervention trial in which 52 pregnant women took either a placebo (corn oil) or a fish oil capsule containing 300 milligrams of DHA 5 days each week from 24-40 weeks of pregnancy ... Although the study did not have enough women to investigate if fish oil consumption resulted in a lower incidence of diagnosable postpartum depression, women in the treatment group had significantly lower total Postpartum Depression Screening Scale scores, with significantly fewer symptoms common to postpartum depression" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Bacteria supplements may affect weight gain: Rat study extends microflora-obesity link - Nutra USA, 4/12/11 - "Early exposure to bacterial strains during pregnancy, breast feeding, and early life has a profound impact on weight gain in the offspring, says a new study with rats ... supplementation of a high-energy-dense diet with the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum resulted in less weight gain, compared to rats fed only the high energy diet ... animals fed the high energy diet and supplemented with less friendly Escherichia coli bacteria experienced significantly higher levels of body fat, compared to the control animals ... the L. plantarum supplemented animals had significantly lower weight gain than both the control and E. coli-supplemented groups. This difference was observed at birth (indicating a potential influence of the mother’s diet) with the L. plantarum pups having an average birth weight of 7.5 grams, compared with 8.2 and 9.6 grams for the control and E.coli animals, respectively ... After six months, a similar trend was observed, with L. plantarum animals having an average weight of 304 grams, compared with 340 and 352 grams for the control and E.coli animals, respectively" - [Abstract] - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• Brain histological changes in young mice submitted to diets with different ratios of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during maternal pregnancy and lactation - Clin Nutr. 2011 Apr 1 - "N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are essential for brain development and function, but the appropriate quantity of dietary n-3 PUFAs and ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs have not been clearly determined ... The feeding regimens began two months before mouse conception and continued throughout lactation for new pups. As compared with the n-3 PUFA-deficient diet, both the flaxseed oil n-3 PUFA diets and the flaxseed/fish oil n-3 PUFA diets significantly increased the expression levels of brain neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and myelin basic protein, somewhat dose-dependently, in new pup mice at 21 d and 42 d of age. The expression of PPAR-γ in the brains of pup mice was increased only at 7 d of age with the n-3 PUFA diet, and no changes in the expression of PPAR-α and PPAR-β were found among all the diet groups. These results suggest that the higher intake amount of n-3 PUFAs with a low ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs at about 1-2:1, supplied during both maternal pregnancy and lactation, may be more beneficial for early brain development, and PPAR-γ may act in one of the pathways by which n-3 PUFAs promote early brain development" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Mothers' hard work pays off with big brains for their babies - Science Daily, 3/28/11 - "brain growth in babies is determined by the duration of pregnancy and how long they suckle"
• Neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral evidence of beneficial effects of prenatal omega-3 fatty acid intake on memory function at school age - Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Mar 9 - "The beneficial effects of prenatal and early postnatal intakes of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on cognitive development during infancy are well recognized. However, few studies have examined the extent to which these benefits continue to be evident in childhood ... Repeated-measures analyses of variance revealed that children with higher cord plasma concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is an important n-3 PUFA, had a shorter FN400 latency and a larger LPC amplitude; and higher plasma DHA concentrations at the time of testing were associated with increased FN400 amplitude. Cord DHA-related effects were observed regardless of seafood-contaminant amounts. Multiple regression analyses also showed positive associations between cord DHA concentrations and performance on neurobehavioral assessments of memory ... To our knowledge, this study provides the first neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral evidence of long-term beneficial effects of n-3 PUFA intake in utero on memory function in school-age children" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com and Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Ritalin may ease early iron deficiency damage - Science Daily, 2/2/11 - "When children are deprived of iron at any point during the last trimester of pregnancy or the first six months of life -- a critical period of brain development -- they suffer brain damage at least through early adulthood, and possibly beyond. In particular, their motor function can be impaired as well as their ability to focus ... Iron-deficient adults often have restless leg syndrome. People who become iron deficient after three years of age can recover by taking iron supplements ... iron deficiency has a major hit on dopamine systems" - See Slow Fe Slow Release Iron Tablets 90-Count Box at Amazon.com.
• Study: You Are What Your Dad Ate - Time Magazine, 12/27/10 - "placed male mice on a low-protein diet from the time they were weaned until they reached sexual maturity. They then studied the offspring those males produced and found some striking changes: the second-generation mouse pups had hundreds of genetic mutations — particularly in the liver — and this had a severe impact on their metabolic functioning. One gene that changed in offspring, for example — known as Ppara — is essential in cholesterol management and the liver's role in converting lipids ... Previous research has suggested that it is this third tier of a family that is most affected by epigenetic changes — or those alterations in a genome that accumulate throughout an animal's life"
• Newborns with low vitamin D levels at increased risk for respiratory infections - Science Daily, 12/27/10
• Effect of a low glycaemic index diet on blood glucose in women with gestational hyperglycaemia - Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010 Nov 19 - "Diet GI on control (58, 95% CI: 56,60) was significantly higher than on low-GI (49, 95% CI: 47,51; p=0.001). Glycaemic control improved on both diets, but more postprandial glucose values were within target on low-GI (58.4% of n=1891) than control (48.7% of n=1834; p<0.001). SMBG post-breakfast was directly related to pre-pregnancy BMI in the control, but not the low-GI group (BMI*diet interaction; p=0.021). Participants accepted the study foods and were willing to consume them post-intervention ... A low-GI diet was feasible and acceptable in this sample and facilitated control of postprandial glucose. A larger study is needed to determine the effect of a low-GI diet on maternal and infant outcomes"
• Caffeine consumption during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth: a meta-analysis - Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Sep 15 - "In this meta-analysis, we observed no important association between caffeine intake during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth for cohort and case-control studies"
• Long-Term Effects of Prenatal Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake on Visual Function in School-Age Children - J Pediatr. 2010 Aug 25 - "This study demonstrates beneficial effects of DHA intake during gestation on visual system function at school age. DHA is particularly important for the early development and long-term function of the visual parvocellular pathway" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Probiotics use in mothers limits eczema in their babies - Science Daily, 7/20/10 - "compared mothers who drank one glass of probiotic milk a day to women who were given a placebo. Use of the probiotic milk -- which the mothers drank beginning at week 36 in their pregnancy up through to three months after birth -- reduced the incidence of eczema by 40 percent in children up to age two, the researchers found"
• Probiotics in pregnancy could have diabetes benefits: Study - Nutra USA, 7/16/10 - "those women who had taken probiotics had a reduced frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): 13 percent for the diet/probiotics group, compared to 36 percent for the diet/placebo group and 34 percent for the control group ... In addition, the dietary counseling during pregnancy reduced the risk of fetal overgrowth, which is thought to predispose to later obesity" - [Abstract] - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study - Br J Nutr. 2010 Jun;103(12):1792-9 - "Firstly, probiotic intervention reduced the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); 13 % (diet/probiotics) v. 36 % (diet/placebo) and 34 % (control); P = 0.003. Secondly, the safety of this approach was attested by normal duration of pregnancies with no adverse events in mothers or children. No significant differences in prenatal or postnatal growth rates among the study groups were detected. Thirdly, distinctive effects of the two interventions were detected; probiotic intervention reduced the risk of GDM and dietary intervention diminished the risk of larger birth size in affected cases; P = 0.035 for birth weight and P = 0.028 for birth length. The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counselling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable" - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• Supplement may prevent alcohol-related brain, skull defects - Science Daily, 5/27/10 - "The dietary supplement CDP-choline, sold as a brain-boosting agent and under study for stroke and traumatic brain injury, may block skull and brain damage that can result from alcohol consumption early in pregnancy ... 25 percent of mouse embryos exposed to alcohol during that critical period had defects in the fibrous joints that connect the skull ... When they added ceramide-neutralizing CDP-choline to the mouse cells, cell death and ceramide levels were reduced" - See citicholine at Amazon.com.
• Folate prevents alcohol-induced congenital heart defects in mice, study finds - Science Daily, 5/24/10 - "A new animal study has found that high levels of the B-vitamin folate (folic acid) prevented heart birth defects induced by alcohol exposure in early pregnancy"
• Researchers discover additional benefit of vitamin A - Science Daily, 5/12/10 - "Children of mothers who received vitamin A supplementation before, during and after pregnancy had significantly improved lung function when compared to those whose mothers received beta-carotene supplementation or placebo"
• Many pregnant women not getting enough vitamin D: Prenatal vitamins help, but are not enough for everyone - Science Daily, 5/11/10 - "out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Widespread Vitamin D Deficiency in Urban Massachusetts Newborns and Their Mothers - Pediatrics. 2010 Mar 22 - "Overall, 58.0% of the infants and 35.8% of the mothers were vitamin D deficient" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Probiotics for mum during pregnancy may cut obesity in child: Study - Nutra USA, 2/16/10
• Vitamin D for Mom May Lower Baby’s MS Risk - WebMD, 2/9/10 - "We also found the risk of MS among daughters whose mothers were in the top 20% of vitamin D intake during pregnancy was 45% lower than daughters whose mothers were in the bottom 20% for vitamin D intake during pregnancy" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Pomegranate extract stimulates uterine contractions - Science Daily, 1/28/10
• Maternal folic acid may slash heart problems in children - Nutra USA, 12/3/09 - "Children of women who took additional folic acid, defined as a daily single supplement or as a multivitamin Containing a folic acid dose of at least 400 micrograms, were found to have an 18 per cent lower risk of CHDs" - [Abstract]
• Protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplements on the risk of congenital heart defects: a registry-based case-control study in the northern Netherlands - Eur Heart J. 2009 Dec 1 - "Our results support the hypothesis that additional periconceptional folic acid use reduces CHD risk in infants. Use of periconceptional folic acid supplements was related to approximately 20% reduction in the prevalence of any CHD. Given the relatively high prevalence of CHD worldwide, our findings are important for public health"
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Problems Associated With Low Folate Levels In Pregnant Women - Science Daily, 10/28/09 - "A study published in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry finds that low maternal folate levels is linked to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems in children at age seven to nine years"
• Eating Licorice In Pregnancy May Affect A Child's IQ And Behavior - Science Daily. 10/6/09 - "Expectant mothers who eat excessive quantities of licorice during pregnancy could adversely affect their child's intelligence and behavior ... They were also more likely to have poor attention spans and show disruptive behavior such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) ... It is thought that a component in licorice called glycyrrhizin may impair the placenta, allowing stress hormones to cross from the mother to the baby"
• Supplementing Babies' Formula With DHA Boosts Cognitive Development, Study Finds - Science Daily, 9/15/09 - "children who were breast fed as infants have superior cognitive skills compared to those fed infant formula, and it's thought that this is due to an essential fatty acid in breast milk called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ... because infants who display superior performance on the means-end problem-solving task tend to have superior IQ and vocabulary later in childhood, it's possible that the beneficial effects of DHA extend well beyond infancy"
• Vitamin C Deficiency Impairs Early Brain Development, Guinea Pig Study Finds - 9/4/09 - "guinea pigs subjected to moderate vitamin C deficiency have 30 per cent less hippocampal neurones and markedly worse spatial memory than guinea pigs given a normal diet. Like guinea pigs, human beings are dependent on getting vitamin C through their diet, and Jens Lykkesfeldt therefore speculate that vitamin C deficiency in pregnant and breast-feeding women may also lead to impaired development in foetuses and new-born babies"
• Low Choline Levels In Pregnant Women Raise Babies' Risk For Brain And Spinal-cord Defects, Study Shows - Science Daily, 8/16/09 - "Choline, an essential nutrient found in egg yolks, soy, wheat germ and meats, was the only nutrient measured whose blood levels were linked to risk of neural tube defects" - See citicholine at Amazon.com.
• Exercise Is Healthy For Mom And Child During Pregnancy, Report States - Science Daily, 8/3/09
• Vitamin C deficiency in early postnatal life impairs spatial memory and reduces the number of hippocampal neurons in guinea pigs - Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul 29 - "Our data show that vitamin C deficiency in early postnatal life results in impaired neuronal development and a functional decrease in spatial memory in guinea pigs. We speculate that this unrecognized effect of vitamin C deficiency may have clinical implications for high-risk individuals, such as in children born from vitamin C-deficient mothers"
• Folic acid in pregnancy better than thought - MSNBC, 6/1/09 - "Baby-protecting folic acid is getting renewed attention: Not only does it fight spina bifida and some related abnormalities, new research shows it also may prevent premature birth and heart defects"
• Vitamin D Insufficiency Linked To Bacterial Vaginosis In Pregnant Women - Science Daily, 5/21/09 - "Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in US women of childbearing age, and is common in pregnant women. BV occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria ... Overall, women with BV had lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations than those without BV (P < 0.01). The prevalence of BV decreased as vitamin D concentration increased to 80 nmol/L (P < 0.001). Compared with 75 nmol/L, serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 20 nmol/L and 50 nmol/L were associated with 65% and 26% increases, respectively, in the likelihood of BV. In summary, these findings suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with BV in the first 4 mo of pregnancy. Further, poor vitamin D status may contribute to the strong racial disparity in the prevalence of BV in US women" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Preconceptional Folic Acid Supplements Are Associated With Reduced Risk Of Premature Birth - Science Daily, 5/11/09
• Study In Pregnant Women Suggests Probiotics May Help Ward Off Obesity - Science Daily, 5/7/09 - "One year after giving birth, women were less likely to have the most dangerous kind of obesity if they had been given probiotics from the first trimester of pregnancy, found new research that suggests manipulating the balance of bacteria in the gut may help fight obesity ... Central obesity, where overall obesity is combined with a particularly fat belly, is considered especially unhealthy ... We found it in 25% of the women who had received the probiotics along with dietary counselling, compared with 43% in the women who received diet advice alone" - See probiotics at Amazon.com.
• Iron Deficiency In Womb May Delay Brain Maturation In Preemies - Science Daily, 5/4/09
• Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women: a longitudinal study - Br J Nutr. 2009 Mar 31:1-6 - "Women reporting use of vitamin D-containing supplements had higher vitamin D status, however, vitamin D insufficiency was still evident even in the face of supplement use. Given the potential consequences of hypovitaminosis D on health outcomes, vitamin D supplementation, perhaps at higher doses than currently available, is needed to improve maternal vitamin D nutriture" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Low Levels Of Vitamin B12 May Increase Risk For Neural Tube Defects - Science Daily, 3/2/09
• Prenaatal Vitamins Should Contain Only Potassium Iodide, Not Other Sources Of Iodine, Scientists Urge - Science Daily, 2/25/09
• Zinc Supplements During Pregnancy May Counteract Damage From Early Alcohol Exposure - Science Daily, 2/2/09 - "Animal research has shown that binge drinking – even just once – during early pregnancy can cause numerous problems for the fetus, including early postnatal death. Fetal zinc deficiency may explain some of the birth defects and neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with alcohol exposure. New rodent findings are the first to show that dietary zinc supplements throughout pregnancy can reduce some alcohol-related birth defects"
• Genetic Study Shows Direct Link Between Vitamin D And MS Susceptibility 'Gene' - Science Daily, 2/5/09 - "The research suggests that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the early years may increase the risk of the offspring developing MS later in life"
• Study: DHA supplements may help premature baby girls - USATODAY.com, 1/13/09 - "premature girls given the high-DHA diet scored about 5 points higher on a 100-point test, which translates to a 55% reduction in the proportion of girls with a "mild mental delay" and an 80% reduction in the proportion of girls with "significant" mental delay" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Greater Rates Of Cesarean Sections - Science Daily, 12/23/08 - "pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient are also at an increased risk for delivering a baby by caesarean section as compared to pregnant women who are not vitamin D deficient ... 28 percent of women with serum 25(OH)D less than 37.5 nmol/L had a caesarean section, compared to only 14 percent of women with 25(OH)D greater than 37.5 nmol/L"
• Why Iron Deficiency Is Important in Infant Development - J Nutr. 2008 Dec;138(12):2534-2536 - "Rodent studies also show effects of iron deficiency during gestation and lactation that persist into adulthood despite restoration of iron status at weaning. These studies indicate that gestation and early lactation are likely critical periods when iron deficiency will result in long-lasting damage"
• Canola Oil May Affect Breast Cancer Risk - WebMD, 11/18/08 - "Could the type of oil a woman consumes during pregnancy influence her daughter's breast cancer risk years later? ... pregnant women may be better off choosing canola oil over most other vegetable oils ... Corn oil has 50% omega-6 and almost no omega-3, while canola oil has 20% omega-6 and 10% omega-3,""
• More fish during pregnancy boosts child development: Study - Nutra USA, 9/22/08 - "The children of mothers who had higher intakes of fish during pregnancy were found to have higher development scores than children of women with low fish intake" - [Abstract] - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
• Associations of maternal fish intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration with attainment of developmental milestones in early childhood: a study from the Danish National Birth Cohort - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Sep;88(3):789-96 - "Higher maternal fish intake and greater duration of breastfeeding were associated with higher child developmental scores at 18 mo [odds ratio: 1.29 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.38) for the highest versus the lowest quintile of fish intake, and 1.28 (1.18, 1.38) for breastfeeding for > or =10 mo compared with breastfeeding for < or =1 mo]. Associations were similar for development at 6 mo. ... Maternal fish intake during pregnancy and the duration of breastfeeding are independently associated with better early child development. Future research and consumption guidelines, incorporating nutritional benefits as well as contaminant risks, should consider the overall effect of prenatal fish consumption on child development" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
• Eating Fish While Pregnant, Longer Breastfeeding Lead to Better Infant Development - Doctor's Guide, 9/10/08 - "Both higher fish consumption and longer breastfeeding are linked to better physical and cognitive development in infants" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
• Eating Fish While Pregnant, Longer Breastfeeding, Lead To Better Infant Development, Research Finds - Science Daily, 9/9/08
• Calcium During Pregnancy Reduces Harmful Blood Lead Levels, Study Finds - Science Daily, 9/9/08
• Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation during pregnancy - Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2008 Sep 2 - "180 women (Indian Asian, Middle Eastern, Black and Caucasian) were recruited at 27 weeks gestation and randomised into three treatment groups: a single oral dose of 200,000 IU vitamin D, a daily supplement of 800 IU vitamin D from 27 weeks until delivery and a no treatment group ... The final maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in the supplemented group (daily dose (median) 42 (IQR 31-76) nmol/l, stat dose (median 34 (IQR 30-46) nmol/l vs. median 27 (IQR 27-39) nmol/l in the no treatment; p<0.0001) and significantly fewer women with secondary hyperparathyroidism in the supplemented group ... Single or daily dose improved 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels significantly. However, even with supplementation, only a small percentage of women and babies were vitamin D sufficient. Further research is required to determine the optimal timing and dosing of vitamin D in pregnancy" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• HbA1C, but not serum glycated albumin, is elevated in late pregnancy due to iron deficiency - Diabetes Care. 2008 Jul 3 - "HbA(1C) levels were elevated in late pregnancy due to iron deficiency. Serum GA may offer a better index for monitoring glycemic control in pregnancy"
• Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Affects Baby's Dental Health - [Science Daily] - Doctor's Guide, 7/3/08 - "Low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect primary tooth calcification, leading to enamel defects, which are a risk factor for early childhood tooth decay"
• Babies, Tots Low on Vitamin D - WebMD, 6/2/08 - "Forty percent of those kids had suboptimal blood levels of vitamin D, including 12% who had vitamin D deficiency. And X-rays showed that a third of kids with vitamin D deficiency had bone demineralization, a sign of thinner bones ... Breastfed babies were particularly likely to be low in vitamin D"
• Women's awareness of the importance of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption during pregnancy: knowledge of risks, benefits and information accessibility - Public Health Nutr. 2008 May 29:1-8 - "Pregnant women lack knowledge of LC n-3 PUFA and health-care services do not provide pregnant women with adequate information on the importance of eating foods high in LC n-3 PUFA during pregnancy"
• Vitamin D Important In Brain Development And Function - Science Daily, 4/21/08 - "there is ample biological evidence to suggest an important role for vitamin D in brain development and function, and that supplementation for groups chronically low in vitamin D is warranted" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com
• Good Nutrition Starts Before Conception: Maternal Diet Critical To Health Of Offspring - Science Daily, 4/14/08
• Omega-3 Intake During Last Months Of Pregnancy Boosts An Infant's Cognitive And Motor Development - Science Daily, 4/9/08 - "Tests conducted on these infants at 6 and 11 months revealed that their visual acuity as well as their cognitive and motor development were closely linked to DHA concentration in the umbilical cord blood at the time of their birth ... These results highlight the crucial importance of prenatal exposure to omega-3s in a child's development" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Mom's fish intake may boost child's brain power - MSMBC, 4/1/08 - "Preschoolers whose mothers regularly ate low-mercury fish during pregnancy may have sharper minds than their peers ... Oily fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are important in fetal and child brain development. The problem is that fatty fish are more likely to be contaminated with mercury, a metal that is toxic to brain cells, particularly in fetuses and young children"
• Vitamin D Deficiency May Be To Blame For Soft Bones In Baby's Skull - Science Daily, 3/26/08 - "Softening of the skull bones in normal-looking babies might reflect vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy"
• Vitamin D requirement during pregnancy and lactation - J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Dec;22 Suppl 2:V39-44 - "Current research has shown that the actual dietary requirement during pregnancy and lactation may actually be as high as 6000 IU/d" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Essential n-3 fatty acids in pregnant women and early visual acuity maturation in term infants - Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar;87(3):548-57 - "More infant girls in the placebo than in the DHA intervention group had a visual acuity below average (P = 0.048). Maternal red blood cell ethanolamine phosphoglyceride docosatetraenoic acid was inversely related to visual acuity in boys (rho = -0.37, P < 0.05) and girls (rho = -0.48, P < 0.01)" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Typical North American Diet Is Deficient In Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Science Daily, 3/7/08 - "the typical North American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development ... the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn't do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren't deficient. The results were noticeable as early as two months of age" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com.
• Low Vitamin B12 in Pregnancy Linked to Insulin Resistance in Offspring - Medscape, 2/15/08 - "Low plasma vitamin B12 in the first trimester and high folate levels in the second trimester of pregnancy predispose offspring to insulin resistance ... An imbalance in the vitamin B12 and folic acid levels produces the "undesirable effects,""
• CDC to Young Women: Take Folic Acid - WebMD, 1/10/08 - "All women, especially younger women ages 18-24 years, need to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily through supplements, fortified foods, or both in addition to a folate-rich diet to prevent serious birth defects"
• Low Antioxidant Level May Damage Fetal Neurons - Science Daily, 12/20/07 - "Fetal neurons that have low levels of a vital antioxidant, glutathione, are the first to die when exposed to alcohol in cell culture and possibly in the living brain"
  • Getting More Glutathione? - Dr. Weil, 8/29/02 - "To my knowledge, the only supplement that effectively raises glutathione levels in the body is N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). My colleague Kathleen Johnson, a dietician here at the Program in Integrative Medicine, tells me that other glutathione supplements are ineffective because they’re digested before they can get into the bloodstream" - See n-acetyl cysteine at Amazon.com.
• Maternal omega-3 consumption boosts offspring's coordination - Nutra USA, 12/20/07 - "Our results suggest that prenatal DHA availability, which can be influenced by maternal dietary DHA intake during pregnancy, can have an effect on quality of movement in later life" - [Abstract] - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Relationship between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and motor function at 7 years of age - Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec 19 - "Our results suggest that prenatal DHA availability, which can be influenced by maternal dietary DHA intake during pregnancy, can have an effect on quality of movement in later life" - See Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• How Embryos Regulate Vitamin A Derivatives: Too Much Or Too Little Linked To Birth Defects - Science Daily, 11/19/07
• Folic Acid in Preconceptual Period May Have a Preventive Effect on Congenital Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 11/6/07 - "The recent increase in folic acid intake has resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of infants born with severe congenital heart disease (CHD), supporting the idea that folic acid taken preconceptually may prevent CHD"
• Is it justifiable to administrate vitamin A, E and D for 6 months in the premature infants? - Arch Pediatr. 2007 Oct 24 - "We recommend to increase oral administration of vitamin A to 5000 IU/day, at least for the first month of life and, thereafter to administer 3000 IU for 5 months. As for vitamin E and vitamin D, the doses used in this study are sufficient but should be administered for 6 months"
• Baby Formula WIth Fish Oil Added May Help Infants - Science Daily, 10/11/07 - "The researchers noticed that in the piglets that were fed the control formula, fewer proteins were produced in their body over time and, at the same time, their insulin became less effective at lowering blood sugar levels. But piglets that drunk the test formula showed increased protein production and their insulin was as effective at using the proteins in the test formula for their growth as when they were born"
• Is vitamin D deficiency to blame for the asthma epidemic? - J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Oct 3 - "higher vitamin D intake by pregnant mothers reduces asthma risk by as much as 40% in children 3 to 5 years old" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Coalition splits over fish guideline for pregnant women - USATODAY.com, 10/10/07 - "Clearly, when these studies come out that are funded by industry that completely dismiss the potentially harmful effects of mercury on mothers and fetus, one certainly has to question the validity of their findings"
• Milk consumption during pregnancy is associated with increased infant size at birth: prospective cohort study - Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;86(4):1104-1110 - "gestational age (SGA) ... large-for-gestational age (LGA) ... Milk intake in pregnancy was associated with higher birth weight for gestational age, lower risk of SGA, and higher risk of LGA"
• FDA Fish Recommendations Challenged - WebMD, 10/4/07
• Scientists to Advise Pregnant Women to Eat Fish - washingtonpost.com, 10/3/07
• New Reasons to Watch What You Eat - US News and World Report, 9/22/07
• Omega-3 Can Prevent Blindness In Premature Mice: Hospital Treatment Soon? - Science Daily, 8/18/07 - "Mice that ate omega-3 initially lost fewer blood vessels in their retinas than mice that ate omega-6, and they evinced only half as much abnormal vessel growth. Their retinas also showed lower inflammatory activity"
• Correlation between vitamin D(3) deficiency and insulin resistance in pregnancy - Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2007 Jul 2 - "Total prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L) was found in 70.6% of pregnant women ... These results show that a positive correlation of 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations with insulin sensitivity and vitamin D deficiency could be a confirmative sign of insulin resistance"
• Pregnancy Diet May Affect Kids' Asthma - WebMD, 5/21/07
• Eating Apples And Fish During Pregnancy May Protect Against Childhood Asthma And Allergies - Science Daily, 5/20/07
• Vitamin pills prevent low-weight babies - CNN, 4/4/07
• Vitamin D Deficiency Widespread During Pregnancy - Doctor's Guide, 3/1/07 - "Our study shows that current vitamin D dietary intake recommendations are not enough to meet the demands of pregnancy" - See vitamin D at Amazon.com.
• Current vitamin D levels not enough in pregnancy, study - Nutra USA, 2/28/07
• Prenatal Vitamins May Prevent Common Childhood Cancers - Doctor's Guide, 2/22/07 - "prenatal supplementation of multivitamins containing folic acid is associated with a 47% protective effect for neuroblastoma, 39% for leukemia and 27% protective effect for brain tumours"
• Flip-Flopping Fish Advice - washingtonpost.com, 2/20/07
• Fish Diet in Pregnancy May Hone Kids' IQ - Intelihealth, 2/16/07
• Folate levels in young American women fall, could lead to rise in birth defects - USA Today, 1/4/07 - "But a CDC study released Thursday found an 8% to 16% decline in folate levels in U.S. women of childbearing age, according to large blood-drawing surveys done between 1999 and 2004"
• Fish Oil for Moms May Benefit Babies - WebMD, 12/21/06 - "children of mothers who took fish oil supplements scored significantly higher on tests of hand-eye coordination than those who took olive oil supplements" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com or Vitacost.
• Dietary intake of B-vitamins in mothers born a child with a congenital heart defect - Eur J Nutr. 2006 Nov 21 - "The CHD risk doubled if vitamin B(12) intake in these mothers reduced by 50%"
• Mom's Diet May Affect Generations - WebMD, 11/13/06 - "supplements given to pregnant mice not only affected the coloring of their offspring, but their offspring's offspring as well"
• Supplementation of n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation reduces maternal plasma lipid levels and provides DHA to the infants - J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2006 Jul;19(7):397-406 - "Maternal supplementation with n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation provides more DHA to the infant and reduces maternal plasma lipid levels compared to supplementation with n-6 fatty acids"
• Planning a Pregnancy? Eat Your Fiber - WebMD, 9/27/06
• Moms' Vitamins Cuts Kids' Brain Tumors - WebMD, 9/22/06 - "Women who take multivitamins before and during pregnancy may be less likely to have children who develop brain tumors by age 5 years"
• Pregnancy Diet May Affect Kids' Asthma - WebMD, 9/1/06
• Recommended Iron Levels for Pregnant Women Found to Be too High - Doctor's Guide, 5/31/06
• Expectant Moms Need Milk's Vitamin D - WebMD, 4/24/06 - "by not drinking milk, mothers got far too little vitamin D. And data analysis shows that it was vitamin D -- not calcium or any other milk-related nutrient -- that accounted for the infants' lower weight"
• Kids' Asthma Linked to Maternal Nutrition - HealthDay, 3/4/06 - "expectant mothers who take higher amounts of vitamin D may decrease their child's risk for asthma ... Vitamin D deficiency is common in areas where asthma is also widespread, raising the suspicion that the two are linked"
• Oily fish makes 'babies brainier' - BBC News, 1/20/06 - "mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average ... Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions - such as an inability to make friends" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com or Vitacost.
• Pregnant? Vitamin D May Aid Baby's Bones - Doctor's Guide, 1/6/06
• L-Carnipure supplements may help reduce diabetes during pregnancy - Nutra USA, 8/29/05
• Why Embryos Need A Good Diet - Science Daily, 5/12/05 - "People's protein intake has decreased since humans evolved, meaning that carbohydrate and fat intake must have increased to compensate. The resulting deficit of important amino acids as well as more starch and fat could lead to poorer health in offspring who develop under those conditions"
• Type 2 Diabetes May Begin With Grandma's Diet - Science Daily, 5/12/05 - "the insulin resistance typical of type 2 diabetes can be "programmed" across two generations by poor nutrition during a grandmother's pregnancy and lactation"
• Omega-3 Boosts Mood Throughout Pregnancy - Clinical Psychiatry News, 5/05 - "In a small, open-label, flexible-dose study of 15 patients using doses up to 2.8 g/day of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, patients showed a mean decrease on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) of 39% and a mean decrease of 34% on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression" - See Mega Twin EPA at Amazon.com or Vitacost.
• Breast Cancer Protection Starts in the Womb - WebMD, 4/20/05 - "Mothers who choose foods packed with omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and while nursing and then feed their kids such a diet after weaning may reduce the risk of breast cancer in their daughters by nearly 90%, early research in mice indicates"
• Vitamin C Supplementation May Reduce Rate of Premature Rupture of Membranes - Medscape, 4/15/05
• Fatty Acids DHA and ARA Significantly Aid Infant Development, Two New Studies Show - Doctor's Guide, 4/15/05 - "The groups receiving supplemental DHA and ARA also had higher mental and psychomotor development scores at 118 weeks ... women who are breastfeeding can take a DHA dietary supplement to ensure adequate levels of DHA in their breast milk. This is particularly important because pregnant and nursing women in the U.S. do not typically receive enough DHA through their diets to pass on the necessary amount to their developing infants"
• Essential fatty acids, DHA and human brain - Indian J Pediatr. 2005 Mar;72(3):239-42 - "It is recommended that the pregnant and nursing woman should take at least 2.6g of omega-3 fatty acids and 100-300 mg of DHA daily to look after the needs of her fetus and suckling infant. The follow-up studies have shown that infants of mothers supplemented with EFAs and DHA had higher mental processing scores, psychomotor development, eye-hand coordination and stereo acuity at 4 years of age. Intake of EFAs and DHA during preschool years may also have a beneficial role in the prevention of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and enhancing learning capability and academic performance" - See iHerb or Vitacost DHA products.  My favorite is Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Dietary assessment of pregnant women--vitamin and mineral supplementation--justified or not? - Przegl Lek. 2004;61(7):769-75 - "The results of the study support the need of supplementation in the pregnant women diets with microelements and vitamins"
• Green tea mechanism urges caution for pregnant women - Nutra USA, 3/17/05
• Dietary intake of vitamin C and vitamin E and the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy - Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2005 Mar 1;119(1):67-71 - "Low vitamin E intake was associated with a significant increase in the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy"
• Poor Prenatal Nutrition Permanently Damages Function Of Insulin-producing Cells In The Pancreas - Science Daily, 3/3/05
• N-3 fatty acids and pregnancy outcomes - Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005 Mar;8(2):161-166 - "Children whose mothers received docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation scored better in mental processing tests carried out at 4 years than children whose mothers received placebo" - See iHerb or Vitacost DHA products.  My favorite is Jarrow Max DHA at Amazon.com.
• Research Studies Effects Of Soy Baby Formula On Intestinal Development - Science Daily, 12/27/04 - "Two studies by University of Illinois food science and human nutrition professor Sharon Donovan show that the soy isoflavone genistein, in amounts present in commercial soy infant formulas, may inhibit intestinal cell growth in babies"
• Soy formula may inhibit intestinal development in babies - Nutra USA, 12/22/04 - "in newborn piglets fed a formula supplemented with genistein at the level found in soy formula, the number of proliferating cells in the intestine was 50 per cent lower than in piglets fed cow's milk formula alone"
• Maternal diet impacts leukaemia risk in child? - Nutra USA, 8/23/04
• Vitamin B12 may also prevent birth defects - Nutra USA, 8/19/04
• Antioxidants During Pregnancy May Help Prevent Birth Defects Tied To Alcohol - Science Daily, 6/21/04
• Eating Oily Fish in Pregnancy May Protect Child Against Asthma - Doctor's Guide, 5/26/04
• DHA from mother boosts infant development, further findings - Nutra USA, 5/5/04
• Research Links Nutrient in Eggs to Improved Memory - WebMD, 3/12/04
• Pregnant & Nauseous? Try Ginger - WebMD, 1/9/04
• Early Pregnancy Risk With Ginseng - WebMD, 9/24/03
• Acupuncture Reduces Pain During Labor - New Hope Natural Media, 8/21/03
• Early Infant Mortality Reduced with Vitamin A Supplementation Within 24 Hours of Birth - Doctor's Guide, 8/4/03
• Optimal Nutrition During Pregnancy - Dr. Murray's Natural Facts, 7/2/03
• Hormone [progesterone] Reduces Preterm Deliveries - WebMD, 6/11/03
• Probiotic At Birth May Decrease Risk Of Atopic Eczema In Early Childhood - Doctor's Guide, 5/29/03 - "Children receiving the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus around the time of birth have been found to be 40% less likely to develop atopic eczema at 4 years of age, compared with controls"
• Fish May Fight Pregnancy Depression Risks - Intelihealth, 5/21/03 - "the more omega-3 fatty acids a woman consumed in seafood during the third trimester, the less likely she was to show signs of major depression at that time and for up to eight months after the birth"
• Multivitamin Supplements Reduce Risk of Birth Defects in Offspring of Diabetic Mothers - Doctor's Guide, 5/9/03 - "Results show that infants of women with diabetes had an increased risk of having selected birth defects only if the mother did not use multivitamins during the periconception period"
• Pregnant African American Teens Need More Calcium For Healthy Fetal Bone Development - Doctor's Guide, 5/5/02
• Pelvic Exercises During Pregnancy Prevent Urinary Incontinence - New Hope Natural Media, 4/24/03
• Folic Acid May Fight Down Syndrome - WebMD, 4/17/03 - "there might be a link between the Down syndrome and neural tube defects, and folic acid supplements may be an effective way to prevent both" - See iHerb or Vitacost folic acid products.
• Wetter, Better Births? - Dr. Weil, 4/16/03
• Maternal Diuretics In Pregnancy May Be Linked To Schizophrenia In Offspring - Doctor's Guide, 3/14/03
• Ginger Effective for Pregnancy Morning Sickness - New Hope Natural Media, 10/31/02
• Low Folic Acid Linked to Miscarriage - WebMD, 10/15/02
• Prenatal Vitamins Cut Child's Tumor Risk - WebMD, 8/30/02
• Prenatal Zinc May Impair Infant Mental Development - Doctor's Guide, 7/25/02
• Biotin Supplement Needed During Pregnancy - New Hope Natural Media, 6/20/02
• Women Unaware of Folic Acid Benefits - WebMD, 6/4/02 - "only 31% of women between the ages of 18 and 45 take a folic acid supplement every day, despite the fact that the vitamin has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of serious birth defects ... In fact, only 10% of women realize that the B vitamin folic acid must be taken prior to pregnancy to prevent birth defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube defects ... it takes about a month for the vitamin to provide the maximum benefit"
• Light May Lift Pregnancy Depression - WebMD, 4/22/02
• Ginger Gets to the 'Root' of Morning Sickness - WebMD, 4/18/02 - "experts say ginger is a highly effective antinausea agent. And a new study shows it's strong enough to combat even nasty cases of morning sickness in pregnant women"
• Exercise Encouraged During Pregnancy - Intelihealth, 3/4/02
• Fish Oil Consumption May Prevent Pre-Term Birth - Doctor's Guide, 2/21/02 - "Low consumption of fish oils appears a strong risk factor for pre-term delivery and low birth weight ... A study among 8,729 pregnant Danish women indicates that long chain omega n.3 fatty acids in amounts above 2 g a day may delay spontaneous delivery and prevent recurrence of pre-term delivery"
• Pregnancy Vitamins Cut Leukemia in Kids - WebMD, 12/6/01 - "Moms who used both folic acid and iron supplements in pregnancy were 60% less likely to have a child develop leukemia"
• Folic Acid Doesn't Increase Miscarriage Risk - WebMD, 9/6/01
• Pharmaceutical Drugs Deplete Folic Acid - Nutrition Science News, 9/01
• Many Women Still Don't Take Folic Acid Before Conception - WebMD, 9/5/01
• Doctors to Pregnant Women: Be Cautious With Herbs - WebMD, 8/31/01
• Ginger Gets to the 'Root' of Morning Sickness, Study Shows Spice Calms Nausea and Vomiting - WebMD, 4/18/01
• Folic Acid Strikes Again, Study Shows Vitamin Protects Against Birth Defects Linked to Common Drugs - WebMD, 11/29/00
• Low Calcium May Equal High Lead Levels in Pregnant Women - WebMD, 11/8/00
• Folic Acid Reduces Defects - Intelihealth, 10/3/00
• Couples Seeking to Conceive Should Avoid St. John's Wort and Others - WebMD, 8/9/00
• Acupuncture Helps Relieve Pregnancy's Low Back Pain - WebMD, 7/6/00
• Prenatal Nutrition - Nutrition Science News, 2/00
• Eat right before pregnancy and boost your baby's health - CNN, 11/29/99
• Folic Acid May Fight Down Syndrome - Intelihealth, 9/29/99
• Exercise during pregnancy: Should you or shouldn't you? - CNN, 5/18/99
• Eating right before, during, and after pregnancy - CNN, 5/17/99
• A Smart Start - Nutrition Science News, 3/99
• Zinc Found to Reduce Infant Mortality Risk - Intelihealth, 4/26/99
• Folate May Not Be Recommended In Women Taking Anti-Epileptics - Doctor's Guide, 4/23/99 - "Expectant mothers who were taking more than one anti-epileptic drug -- valproate and carbamazepine in particular -- had a 22 percent risk of having a child with birth defects"
• March of Dimes promotes B vitamin to curb birth defects - CNN, 1/28/99
• Folic Acid During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Multiple Births - Doctor's Guide, 1/22/99
• Early Nutrition In Babies May Have Long-Term Effects On The Brain - Doctor's Guide, 11/26/98
• Report Urges Supplemental Folic Acid For Women of Childbearing Age - Doctor's Guide, 4/8/98
• ZENATE Prenatal Multivitamin Now Available - Doctor's Guide, 8/26/96

Other News:

• Harmful effects of hypothyroidism on maternal and fetal health drive new guidelines for managing thyroid disease in pregnancy - Science Daily, 7/25/11
• Sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes - Science Daily, 6/13/11
• Fetal exposure to BPA changes development of uterus in primates, study suggests - Science Daily, 6/7/11 - "The new study used the rhesus monkey, a species that is very similar to humans in regard to pregnancy and fetal development, said Williams, a study co-author ... During a period that represented the third trimester of human pregnancy, the investigators gave BPA to 12 pregnant monkeys, each carrying a single female fetus ... In the first year of the experiment, six monkeys received BPA orally in a fruit treat, at a dose of 400 micrograms per kilogram of body weight daily, the researchers reported. During the second year, six additional pregnant monkeys received BPA through capsules implanted subcutaneously (below the skin), for a daily dose of 100 micrograms per kilogram. Both forms of BPA resulted in a BPA level in the blood that is close to levels normally found in adult women, according to the authors' abstract ... The investigators analyzed the uterus of each offspring for gene expression. Oral BPA altered expression of HOX and WNT genes that are critical for uterine development, they found. They are still analyzing the data for the animals that received subcutaneous BPA"
• How high-fat diet during pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth - Science Daily, 6/2/11
• Highest reported BPA level in pregnant woman and associated abnormalities in infant - Science Daily, 5/11/11 - "Pregnant women are often exposed to BPA in their daily lives ... At 27 weeks of pregnancy, the mother had the highest reported urinary BPA concentration of anyone in the general population. She reported consuming canned foods and beverages, and using and microwaving plastic food storage containers consistently during this pregnancy time period. All of these exposures could have led to her extremely high BPA concentration. Her infant had a normal newborn neurobehavioral exam but had many neurobehavioral abnormalities at the one-month study visit including: increased muscle tone, tremors, and abnormal movements. The child went on to have normal neurobehavioral assessments yearly from one to five years of age ... This case study confirms previous studies documenting multiple sources of BPA exposure in humans. Additionally, it highlights the need for medical providers to be aware of the harmful effects of BPA exposures so they may counsel families appropriately about prevention. The study also identifies potential sources of BPA exposure that can be targeted to reduce exposures in the future. "Families can decrease their exposure to BPA by eating fresh fruit and vegetables (as opposed to processed and canned foods) and by decreasing use of plastic food storage containers," said Sathyanarayana. "Check the recycling code of your plastics on the bottom. If it shows #7, then the plastic may contain BPA"
• A Study Shows Connections Between Maternal Exposure to BPA and Childhood Asthma - Time Magazine, 5/2/11 - "At 6 months old, infants whose mothers had high levels of BPA were twice as likely to show wheezing as babies whose mothers who had low levels"
• Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ in children, study finds - Science Daily, 4/21/11 - "every tenfold increase in measures of organophosphates detected during a mother's pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5 point drop in overall IQ scores in the 7-year-olds. Children in the study with the highest levels of prenatal pesticide exposure scored seven points lower on a standardized measure of intelligence compared with children who had the lowest levels of exposure"
• Extra iron doesn't help many pregnant women, study suggests - Science Daily, 3/11/11
• Brain function linked to birth size; Study sheds light on mental health problems later in life - Science Daily, 2/18/11 - "children who were born small, with relatively large placentas, showed more activity on the right side of their brains than the left. It is this pattern of brain activity that has been linked with mood disorders such as depression"
• Mouth Rinse Reduces Preterm Birth in Women With Periodontal Disease - Science Daily, 2/16/11 - "the incidence of preterm birth at less than 35 weeks was 6.1% in the rinse group and 21.9% in the control group (P = .01). In the intent-to-treat analysis, the relative risk for preterm birth was 0.26 in the rinse group. The mean gestational age in the rinse group was significantly higher than in the control group (38.4 vs 36.8 weeks; P < .011). The analysis also showed that the mean birth weight in the rinse group was significantly higher than in the control group (3087 vs 2633 g; P < .001)"
• Common insecticide used in homes associated with delayed mental development of young children - Science Daily, 2/10/11 - "When the EPA phased out the widespread residential use of chlorpyrifos and other organophosphorus (OP) insecticides in 2000-2001 because of risks to child neurodevelopment, these compounds were largely replaced with pyrethroid insecticides ... scientists of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found a significant association between piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a common additive in pyrethroid formulations, measured in personal air collected during the third trimester of pregnancy, and delayed mental development at 36 months ... While the results demonstrate that a significant prenatal exposure to permethrin in personal air and/or plasma was not associated with performance scores for the Bayley Mental Developmental Index or the Psychomotor Developmental Index at 36 months, children who were more highly exposed to PBO in personal air samples (≥4.34 ng/m3) scored 3.9 points lower on the Mental Developmental Index than those with lower exposures ... This drop in IQ points is similar to that observed in response to lead exposure"
• Study finds toxic chemicals in pregnant womens' bodies - USATODAY.com, 1/13/11 - "These chemicals include certain pesticides, flame retardants, PFCs used in non-stick cookware, phthalates (in many fragrances and plastics), pollution from car exhaust, perchlorate (in rocket fuel) and PCBs, toxic industrial chemicals banned in 1979 that persist in the environment ... BPA — an estrogen-like ingredient in plastic found in 96% of pregnant women — affects the development of the brain, prostate and behavior in children exposed both before and after birth. Lead and mercury are known to cause brain damage ... some of these chemicals may act together to cause more damage than they would alone"
• Increased BPA exposure linked to reduced egg quality in women - Science Daily, 12/15/10 - "As blood levels of BPA in the women studied doubled, the percentage of eggs that fertilized normally declined by 50 percent ... Given the widespread nature of BPA exposure in the U.S., even a modest effect on reproduction is of substantial concern"
• Mercury in Tuna Still a Concern, Consumer Reports Says - Medscape, 12/8/10 - "A woman of childbearing age who ate 2.5 ounces of any of the samples would be over the intake deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)"
• Pregnant mother's diet impacts infant's sense of smell, alters brain development - Science Daily, 12/1/10
• Heavy smoking during pregnancy linked to kids becoming repeat offenders as adults - Science Daily, 11/16/10
• Use of mild painkillers in pregnancy linked to increased risk of male reproductive problems, new evidence shows - Science Daily, 11/8/10
• Light drinking during pregnancy: Harmful to child's behavioral or intellectual development? - Science Daily, 10/5/10
• Early-life exposure to BPA may affect testis function in adulthood - Science Daily, 6/21/10 - "Exposure to environmental levels of the industrial chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, in the womb and early life may cause long-lasting harm to testicular function"
• Diesel exhaust associated with lethargy in offspring - Science Daily, 3/23/10 - "The researchers speculate that certain components, such as ultrafine particles, in the diesel exhaust may be translocated into the offspring of mice, disturbing the normal timetable of development in offspring and leading to the behavioral and physiological abnormalities seen in this study. Alternatively, or additionally, diesel exhaust exposure may affect the mother's behavior toward the pups after birth, which could also cause lethargy and altered brain chemistry"
• Sugary cola drinks linked to higher risk of gestational diabetes - Science Daily, 11/30/09
• Alcohol in pregnancy linked to child behavior problems - Science Daily, 11/23/09
• Flu Vaccine Given To Women During Pregnancy Keeps Infants Out Of The Hospital, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 11/2/09 - "Infants born to women who received influenza vaccine during pregnancy were hospitalized at a lower rate than infants born to unvaccinated mothers ... vaccinating mothers during pregnancy was 80 percent effective in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in their infants during the first year of life and 89 percent effective in preventing hospitalization in infants under six months of age"
• A High Fat Diet During Pregnancy Can Lead To Severe Liver Disease In Offspring - Science Daily, 10/12/09
• Prenatal Exposure To BPA Might Explain Aggressive Behavior In Some 2-Year-old Girls - Science Daily, 10/6/09
• Smoking During Pregnancy Puts Children At Risk Of Psychotic Symptoms - Science Daily, 10/1/09
• Antidepressants Linked to Birth Defect - WebMD, 9/24/09 - "the risk is greatest when moms-to-be take more than one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant or switch SSRIs early in pregnancy ... babies born to women who had filled prescriptions for more than one SSRI had a fourfold increase in septal heart defects -- a malformation of the wall that divides the left and right sides of the heart"
• Fish Intake in Maternal Diet, Mercury Exposure May Affect Fetal Growth - Medscape, 9/14/09 - "small for gestational age (SGA) ... Compared with mothers who consumed less than 1 portion of canned tuna per month, those consuming 2 or more portions per week had newborns who weighed more (P for trend = .03) and had a lower risk of having infants who were SGA for weight"
• Gestational Diabetes: Link to Sugary Drinks? - WebMD, 6/8/09 - "Compared to women who reported drinking less than one sugar-sweetened beverage per month, women who reported drinking five or more sugar-sweetened beverages per month were 22% more likely to report gestational diabetes. Colas were the only sugar-sweetened beverages linked to gestational diabetes"
• Institute of Medicine Issues New Guidelines on Pregnancy Weight Gain - WebMD, 5/28/09
• Prenatal Cocaine Exposure May Compromise Neurocognitive Development - Science Daily, 5/1/09
• Effects Of Maternal Exercise On Fetal Breathing Movements - Science Daily, 4/17/09
• Differences Among Exercisers And Nonexercisers During Pregnancy - Science Daily, 4/17/09
• Epilepsy Drug Linked to Babies' Lower IQ - WebMD, 4/15/09 - "Women with epilepsy who took the drug valproate ( Depakote) during pregnancy gave birth to children whose IQ at age 3 averaged up to 9 points lower than the scores of children exposed to other epilepsy drugs"
• Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure Linked To Abnormal Brain Development - Science Daily, 4/15/09
• New Evidence Of Periodontal Disease Leading To Gestational Diabetes - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "Gestational diabetes is characterized by an inability to transport glucose -- the main source of fuel for the body -- to the cells during pregnancy. The condition usually disappears when the pregnancy ends, but women who have had gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of developing the most common form of diabetes, known as Type 2 diabetes, later in life ... In addition to its potential role in preterm delivery, evidence that gum disease may also contribute to gestational diabetes suggests that women should see a dentist if they plan to get pregnant, and after becoming pregnant"
• Your Oral Health Is Connected To Your Overall Health - Science Daily, 4/4/09 - "While treatment of mothers with mild periodontal disease usually does not have an effect on infant prematurity, the greatest effect has been reported by scientists to be observed in mothers with generalized severe periodontal disease"
• Older Fathers, Lower IQ in Kids? - WebMD, 3/9/09
• Low Dose Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Damage Heart Of Offspring For A Lifetime - Science Daily, 12/16/08 - "the equivalent of one dose of caffeine (just two cups of coffee) ingested during pregnancy may be enough to affect fetal heart development and then reduce heart function over the entire lifespan of the child"
• Consuming Small Amounts Of Caffeine When Pregnant May Affect Growth Of Unborn Child - Science Daily, 11/3/08
• Statins May Prevent Miscarriages, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 10/10/08
• Levels Of Key Hormone During First Trimester Of Pregnancy Could Lead To Earlier Diagnosis Of Gestational Diabetes - Science Daily, 10/7/08 - "New research shows women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus) have reduced levels of an insulin-sensitive hormone, adiponectin, as early as nine weeks into the pregnancy"
• Premature Children Four Times More Likely To Have Behavioral Disorders - Science Daily, 9/8/08
• Caesarean Babies More Likely To Develop Diabetes - Science Daily, 8/26/08
• Mom's High Fat Diet During Pregnancy May Be Key To Child's Weight Issues - Science Daily, 6/18/08
• Cannabis 'can harm foetal brain' - BBC News, 6/16/08 - "Now we demonstrate the extent of this signalling system and that complex network of neurons - the backbones of higher cognitive functions - do not develop normally when endocannabinoid signalling is disturbed ... babies born to mothers who took cannabis while they were pregnant went on to experience problems with physical activity"
• Drinking Tap Water Disinfected With Chlorine May Harm Fetus, Study Suggests - Science Daily, 6/2/08
• Cell Phones Risky during Pregnancy? - WebMD, 5/21/08
• Maternal Exposure To Persistent Organic Pollutants Linked To Urologic Conditions In Boys - Science Daily, 5/15/08
• Pregnancy: High Normal Blood Sugar Risky - WebMD, 5/7/08
• Periodontal Disease Can Lead To Gestational Diabetes, Study Shows - Science Daily, 3/24/08 - "Inflammation associated with periodontal disease is believed to play a role in the onset of gestational diabetes, perhaps by interfering with the normal functioning of insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose metabolism"
• Pregnancy Stress, Schizophrenia Linked? - WebMD, 2/4/08
• Caffeine Is Linked To Miscarriage Risk, New Study Shows - Science Daily, 1/21/08
• Sleep Key to Pitching Pregnancy Pounds - WebMD, 11/19/07
• Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Conduct Problems: a Clearer Link - Doctor's Guide, 11/5/07
• Caesarean Births Pose Higher Risks For Mother And Baby - Science Daily, 10/31/07
• Low Maternal Total Cholesterol Linked to Preterm Delivery - Medscape, 10/1/07
• Drug May Help Pregnant Women with Insulin Resistance - Doctor's Guide, 9/6/07 - "metformin, the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetes drug, could potentially improve pregnancy outcomes in women with insulin resistance"
• Gestational Diabetes Ups Child Obesity - WebMD, 8/28/07
• Non-Stick Chemicals Linked To Low Birth Weight - Science Daily, 8/23/07
• Study Links Blood Sugar to Newborn Risks - Intelihealth, 6/25/07 - "The higher a pregnant woman's level of blood sugar, the greater the risk to her newborn -- whether the mother has diabetes or not"
• Smoking During Pregnancy Can Increase Risk Of ADHD In Child - Science Daily, 5/23/07
• Prenatal Nicotine Exposure Can Lead To Cardiac Function Reprogramming In Adult Offspring - Science Daily, 5/1/07
• Pregnancy Weight Linked to Heavy Kids - WebMD, 4/2/07
• Study Links Beef to Lower Sperm Count - WebMD, 3/27/07 - "men whose mothers ate lots of beef during pregnancy may have lower sperm counts than other men ... residues of hormones given to beef to promote growth may be a factor, but that's not certain"
• Maternal Fish Consumption, Mercury Levels, and Risk of Preterm Delivery - Medscape, 3/12/07 - "fish consumption is a major source of mercury exposure for pregnant women ... The greatest fish source for mercury exposure appeared to be canned fish, both because it was consumed more and, per meal, it was among the fish categories associated with the highest levels of mercury in maternal hair. The observed relationship between elevated mercury levels and increased risk of very preterm delivery is a new finding and requires caution in interpretation"
• Pregnant women warned about Paxil - MSNBC, 11/30/06
• Gaining Weight Between Babies Risky - WebMD, 9/28/06
• Iron Overload Risks for Pregnant Women - Doctor's Guide, 6/16/06
• Canned Tuna: Avoid if Pregnant? - WebMD, 6/5/06
• Pregnancy Spacing Affects Outcome - WebMD, 4/18/06
• Panel Finds Insufficient Evidence to Recommend For or Against Maternal-Request Caesarean Delivery - Doctor's Guide, 3/30/06
• Typical Pregnancy Now 39 Weeks, Not 40 - WebMD, 3/23/06
• Advisory - Newer Antidepressants Linked to Serious Lung Disorder in Newborns - Doctor's Guide, 3/10/06
• Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Appears Associated with Withdrawal Symptoms in Newborns - Doctor's Guide, 2/16/06
• UCSD/Boston University Find Antidepressants May Affect Fetus - Doctor's Guide, 2/9/06
• Infants and Antidepressant Withdrawal - WebMD, 2/6/06
• Periodontitis Associated With Pregnancy Complications - Doctor's Guide, 2/6/06
• Pregnancy's Bladder Woes Often Fade - WebMD, 2/2/06
• Depression May Return During Pregnancy - WebMD, 1/31/06
• Smoking While Pregnant Causes Finger, Toe Deformities - Science Daily, 1/6/06
• Coaching Barely Shortens Labor - WebMD, 12/30/05
• Periodontal Therapy May Reduce Incidence of Preterm Births and Low Birthweight Infants - Doctor's Guide, 11/22/05
• New Guidelines Say Vaginal Birth Should Be Offered Despite Prior Cesarean - Doctor's Guide, 10/11/05
• High Blood Glucose Levels in Early Pregnancy May Deprive Embryo of Oxygen and Lead to Birth Defects, Joslin Diabetes Center Study Shows - Doctor's Guide, 10/4/05
• Smoking During Pregnancy May Double ADHD Risk - WebMD, 8/2/05
• New Energy Bars Help Moms-To-Be - CBS 2 Chicago, 7/12/05
• Antidepressant Drug Exposure Affects Infants - WebMD, 5/17/05
• Vast majority of episiotomies unnecessary - MSNBC, 5/3/05
• Breast-cancer Risk Linked To Exposure To Traffic Emissions At Menarche, First Birth - Science Daily, 4/30/05 - "higher exposure around the time of first menstruation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potential carcinogens found in traffic emissions, was associated with increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer"
• Pregnant Women With Epilepsy Face Dilemma: Continue Treatment And Risk Birth Defects? - Science Daily, 4/23/05
• Contaminated Corn Can Create Risks For The Unborn - Science Daily, 4/5/05
• Pregnant Women Should Exercise To Keep Depression Away - Science Daily, 4/2/05
• Epilepsy Drug Linked to Birth Defects, Low IQ - WebMD, 3/21/05
• Mother's diet linked to foetal liver health, adult disease - Nutra USA, 1/20/05
• Most Childhood Cancers Linked to Prenatal Exposure to Pollutants - Doctor's Guide, 1/18/05 - "Most childhood cancers are "probably" down to prenatal exposure to industrial and environmental pollutants, most likely to have been inhaled by the mother during pregnancy"
• Controlling Asthma Important for Pregnant Women - WebMD, 1/11/05
• Once a C-section, always a C-section? - MSNBC, 12/27/04
• Antiseizure Drug Depakote Under Fire - WebMD, 12/7/04 - "The antiseizure drug Depakote has been linked to birth defects and lower IQs among children exposed to it in the womb"
• High Protein, Low-Carb Diet During Pregnancy Improved Triglycerides, Fat Metabolism In Offspring - Science Daily, 11/26/04
• When Are You Too Old for Pregnancy? - WebMD, 11/3/04
• Pain After Childbirth Common, Often Untreated - WebMD, 11/3/04
• Excess Weight Can Prolong Childbirth - WebMD, 10/29/04
• Pregnancy Has Little Effect on Sexual Function - WebMD, 10/22/04
• C-section May Increase Kids Allergy Risks - WebMD, 10/20/04
• New Research Suggests Link Between Maternal Diet And Childhood Leukemia Risk - Science Daily, 9/9/04
• C-Section No Cure-All for Problem Births - WebMD, 9/2/04
• Too Much Thyroid Hormone Can Harm Fetus - WebMD, 8/10/04
• Giving Birth After Age 35 Cuts Cancer Risk - WebMD, 7/16/04
• Anxiety During Pregnancy Increases ADHD Risk - WebMD, 7/16/04
• Taking Thyroid Hormone? Take More if Pregnant - WebMD, 7/14/04
• Study Ups Options for Difficult Births - WebMD, 7/1/04
• Experts Concerned Over SSRI Use in Pregnancy - WebMD, 6/9/04
• Fish May Boost Fetal Growth - WebMD, 5/12/04
• Depression Undertreated During Pregnancy - Doctor's Guide, 5/4/04
• Seizure Medication [Depakote] Linked to Birth Defects - Doctor's Guide, 4/30/04
• Prozac in Pregnancy Toxic to Fetus - WebMD, 4/28/04
• Use of Antidepressants in Late Pregnancy Associated With Increased Risk of Neonatal Anomalies - Doctor's Guide, 4/6/04
• Mom's Mood Affects Baby's Birth Risk - WebMD, 3/31/04
• Airborne Cancerous Agents Can Reach Fetus - WebMD, 3/29/04
• FDA Issues New Tuna Limits for Women - WebMD, 3/19/04
• Heavy Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy may Result in Babies with Permanent Nerve Damage - Doctor's Guide, 3/9/04
• Antidepressant Use May Harm Fetus - WebMD, 2/2/04
• C-Section May Affect Future Fertility - WebMD, 1/14/04
• Sexual Problems Common After Childbirth - WebMD, 12/11/03
• FDA to Warn Pregnant Women to Limit Tuna - WebMD, 12/11/03
• Late Pregnancies Put Mom and Baby at Risk - WebMD, 11/7/03
• New Guidelines to Prevent Premature Birth - WebMD, 11/7/03
• Pasteurized Soft Cheese OK in Pregnancy - WebMD, 11/5/03
• Women In Denial About Folic Acid Benefit - WebMD, 9/3/03
• Prenatal Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Significantly Increases Risk of Miscarriage - Doctor's Guide, 8/14/03
• A Short-term Interval Between Pregnancies Is A Risk Factor for Preterm Birth and Neonatal Death - Doctor's Guide, 8/12/03
• Close Pregnancies Increase Risks - Doctor's Guide, 8/7/03
• Paternal Smoking Before Conception Increases Risk of Childhood Leukemia in Offspring - Doctor's Guide, 7/17/03
• Taking SSRIs in Pregnancy Affects Infant - WebMD, 7/14/03
• Extra Checks For Breast Cancer In Pregnancy Needed - Doctor's Guide, 6/20/03
• Weekend Birth No Riskier Than Weekday - WebMD, 6/10/03
• Maternal Lifestyle Factors in Pregnancy Risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Associated Behaviors - Am J Psychiatry 160:1028-1040, 6/03 - "Exposure to tobacco smoke in utero is suspected to be associated with ADHD and ADHD symptoms in children. Other maternal lifestyle factors during pregnancy may also be associated with these disorders. Further studies are needed to reach conclusions"
• Is It a Boy or Girl? Your Appetite Knows - WebMD, 6/5/03
• How Stress Causes Miscarriage - WebMD, 6/5/03
• Smoking During Pregnancy Leads to Signs of Drug Withdrawal in Babies - WebMD, 6/2/03
• Newborns of Obese Women at Increased Risk of Birth Defects - Doctor's Guide, 5/26/03
• Pregnancy Depression Often Not Treated - WebMD, 5/20/03
• Many Pregnant Women May Have Depression, But Few Getting Treatment - Doctor's Guide, 5/20/03
• Mercury From Ocean Fish Does Not Appear To Impair Neurodevelopment - Doctor's Guide, 5/15/03 - I've seen so many conflicting studies on a wide variety of things and I wouldn't bet my infants brain on just one study. - Ben
• Sperm Sorter Allows Parents To Pick Baby Gender - thesandiegochannel.com, 5/14/03
• Mom's Voice Is Distinguished in Womb - WebMD, 5/14/03
• Season of Birth Linked to Infant Weight - WebMD, 5/7/03
• Prenatal Magnesium Sulfate May Be Neuroprotective for Very Preterm Infants - Doctor's Guide, 5/7/03
• Acne Drug [Accutane] Not For Pregnant Women - CBS News, 5/5/03
• Obesity Ups Risk Of Birth Defects - Intelihealth, 5/5/03
• Pros and Cons of Cesarean on Demand Debated - Medscape, 5/1/03
• Elective Cesarean Sections Prevent Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence - Doctor's Guide, 5/1/03
• High-Dose Vaginal Misoprostol Shortens Interval to Delivery for Mid-Trimester Inductions - Doctor's Guide, 5/1/03
• Subcutaneous Metoclopramide Therapy Plus Hydration Controls Pregnancy Nausea and Vomiting - Doctor's Guide, 5/1/03
• Teflon Chemical Under Scrutiny - CBS News, 4/16/03
• Study: Atkins Harmful During Pregnancy - Intelihealth, 4/10/03
• Depressed Mother, Depressed Child - Medscape, 4/9/03
• Report: C8 Poses Risk To Women, Girls - Intelihealth, 3/31/03
• Underfed Babies Face Less Adult Disease Risk - WebMD, 3/27/03
• Memory Lapses During Pregnancy, Lack of Concentration Common, But Unfounded - WebMD, 3/21/03
• Treating Asymptomatic Vaginal Infections Can Reduce Miscarriage/Pre-Term Delivery - Doctor's Guide, 3/20/03
• Inhaled Steroids Safe During Pregnancy - WebMD, 3/11/03
• Higher Birth Weight Associated With Adolescent Obesity - Doctor's Guide, 3/10/03
• Study Confirms Value of Second Trimester Serum Down's Symdrome Screening Over Use of Maternal Age Alone - Doctor's Guide, 3/6/03
• Childbirth and Urinary Stress Incontinence - WebMD, 3/5/03
• More Women Opt for Cesarean Delivery; Some Experts Say it's a Woman's Right - WebMD, 3/5/03
• Anti-Epileptic Drugs Linked to Fetal Malformations - Medscape, 3/3/03
• Amoxicillin Not Linked To Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes - Doctor's Guide, 2/27/03
• Something Fishy With Seafood? - CBS News, 2/25/03 - "Studies show that mercury found in some fishes can be unhealthy and dangerous for pregnant women. But experts say little has been done to warn those at risk ... mercury in the body can result in impaired coordination, blurred vision, tremors, irritability, memory loss and behavioral or intellectual problems"
• Maternity Seat Belt Keeps Moms-To-Be Safe - NBCSanDiego.com, 2/12/03
• Low Birth-Weight Babies' Language Skills, Intelligence Normal by Age 8 - WebMD, 2/11/03
• Progesterone May Reduce Premature Births - Intelihealth, 2/6/03
• Binge Drinking In Pregnancy Linked to SIDS - Clinical Psychiatry News, 2/03
• Premature Births: Top Obstetric Problem - WebMD, 1/30/03
• Mom's Vegan Diet May Put Baby at Risk - WebMD, 1/30/03
• Even Minor Risk Of Oxygen Deprivation May Place Premature Babies At Greater Risk For Cognitive And Language Problems - Doctor's Guide, 1/28/03
• Boys Cause More Birth Complications - WebMD, 1/16/03
• Umbilical Cord Care: Soap May Be Risky - WebMD, 1/8/03
• Episiotomy During Childbirth Too High - WebMD, 1/3/03
• No Negative Effects From Epidural Analgesia In Spontaneous Vaginal Deliveries - Doctor's Guide, 12/12/02
• Third-Trimester Paroxetine Exposure Related to Neonatal Complications - Doctor's Guide, 12/9/02
• Caesarean Section Tied To Chronic Pelvic Pain - Doctor's Guide, 12/6/02
• Antidepressants Linked to Premature Birth - WebMD, 12/3/02
• Beware Third Trimester Exposure to Paroxetine - Medscape, 11/21/02
• Booze and babies: How much danger? - USA Today, 11/20/02
• FDA Clears Childbirth Infection Test - Intelihealth, 11/19/02
• Women After 50 Can Have Safe Pregnancy - WebMD, 11/12/02
• Rate of Antidepressant Discontinuation During Pregnancy Cause for Concern - Doctor's Guide, 11/5/02
• Caesarean Can Prevent Most Second Twin Delivery Deaths - Doctor's Guide, 10/31/02
• Foetal Drug Exposure Produces Central And Autonomic System Signs In Infants - Doctor's Guide, 10/22/02
• Flu Vaccine Underused in Pregnant Women - Doctor's Guide, 10/22/02
• Vaginal Birth Following C-Section Birth May Increase Urinary Incontinence and Sexual Function - Doctor's Guide, 10/18/02
• The Occasional Drink Could Hurt Fetus - WebMD, 10/15/02
• Drugs in Pregnancy Linked to Cancer - WebMD, 10/11/02
• Celebrex Stops Preterm Labor - WebMD, 9/30/02 - "Celebrex was found to work just as well as the most common preterm labor drug, but was much safer for mother and baby"
• Aspirin Before Bed May Reduce Risk For Preterm Delivery, Gestational Hypertension And Preeclampsia - Doctor's Guide, 9/27/02
• Bedtime Aspirin Lowers Pregnancy Trouble - WebMD, 9/26/02
• Celebrex May Be Safe For Preterm Labor, Preliminary Study Finds - Doctor's Guide, 9/24/02
• Non-Stop Labor Support Questioned - WebMD, 9/17/02
• Budesonide Poses no Apparent Risk in Pregnancy, START Study Reveals - Doctor's Guide, 9/16/02
• Third Trimester Exposure to Pollen Puts Infants at Risk of Asthma - Doctor's Guide, 9/16/02
• Twins Born to Older Moms Do Just Fine - WebMD, 9/13/02
• Nicotine's Link to SIDS Uncovered - WebMD, 9/9/02
• Links To Postpartum Urinary Retention Identified - Doctor's Guide, 9/3/02
• Risk of Preterm Low Birth Weight in Women With Periodontal Disease Reduced By Periodontal Therapy - Doctor's Guide, 9/2/02
• Brain Damage in Infants Not Always Tied to Delivery - Doctor's Guide, 8/20/02
• Epidurals, other approaches help manage labor pain - USA Today, 8/13/02
• Cervicovaginal Fibronectin Test Can Predict Spontaneous Preterm Birth Risk - Doctor's Guide, 8/12/02
• Reports Probe Safety Of Water Births - Intelihealth, 8/5/02
• Women Being Induced Prefer Oral To Sublingual Misoprostol - Doctor's Guide, 8/1/02
• Pregnant? 2 Cans of Tuna Per Week OK - WebMD, 7/31/02
• Pregnant women urged to get Group B screening - USA Today, 7/24/02
• rhEPO Reduces Anemia in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants - Medscape, 7/22/02
• Pregnancy Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD, 7/18/02 - "Women who experience complications during pregnancy may be at increased risk for heart disease"
• Women Who Refuse To See Stillborn May Be Psychologically Better Off - Doctor's Guide, 7/11/02
• Should Mom See Her Stillborn Baby? - WebMD, 7/11/02
• Intrathecal Fentanyl Supplementation of Bupivacaine in Cesarean Delivery Superior to IV Fentanyl Supplementation - Doctor's Guide, 7/2/02
• Multiple Births - Their Risks And How To Prevent Them - Doctor's Guide, 7/1/02
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Could Save Women From The Agony Of Repeated Miscarriages - Doctor's Guide, 7/1/02
• Most Women Have Back Pain In Pregnancy - Doctor's Guide, 7/1/02
• Technique, Suture Type Can Relieve Perineal Pain After Delivery - Doctor's Guide, 6/28/02
• Edinburgh Scale Effectively Spots Postpartum Depression Risk - Doctor's Guide, 6/26/02
• Maternal Smoking Compromises Foetal IGF-1 Concentrations and Reduces Birth Weight - Doctor's Guide, 6/24/02
• No Benefit on Fetal Outcome Observed from Prophylactic Ephedrine in Cesarean Delivery - Doctor's Guide, 6/24/02
• Hypertension In Pregnancy Associated With Greater Adverse Outcomes For Type 1 Diabetics - Doctor's Guide, 6/20/02
• Physiotherapy Helps Reduce Post-Partum Incontinence - Doctor's Guide, 5/27/02
• Asthma Should Be Treated Aggressively in Pregnancy - Medscape, 5/22/02
• Labour After Previous Caesarean Raises Risk Of Perinatal Death - Doctor's Guide, 5/22/02
• Vaginal Birth After C-Section: Risk Low - WebMD, 5/21/02
• Repeat Caesareans Safest - Intelihealth, 5/21/02
• New Research On Childbirth Prompting Calls For More Attention To Alternative Pain-Relief Methods - Intelihealth, 5/21/02
• Expectant Mother's Asthma and Hay Fever May Cause Newborn Eczema - Doctor's Guide, 5/20/02
• Birth Defects Not Linked To Timing Of Intercourse - Doctor's Guide, 5/9/02
• Timing of Sex Not Linked to Birth Defects - WebMD, 5/9/02
• Episiotomy Rates Drop Sharply - WebMD, 5/9/02
• Ondansetron Appears Safe And Effective for Pregnant Women With Nausea and Vomiting - Doctor's Guide, 5/8/02
• Gaining the Right Pregnancy Weight - WebMD, 5/7/02
• Rofecoxib As Effective As Magnesium Sulfate For Arresting Preterm Labor - Doctor's Guide, 5/7/02
• Smoking Decreases Chances It'll Be a Boy - WebMD, 4/18/02
• Working While Pregnant May Be Risky - WebMD, 4/17/02
• Mother Nature, Not Folk Remedies, "Best Obstetrician," Researcher Says - Doctor's Guide, 4/12/02
• Acne drug program targets birth defect prevention - CNN, 4/10/02 - "Accutane also can cause severe birth defects"
• C-Section Often Best for Breech Babies - WebMD, 4/9/02
• Labor-Inducing Myths Abound - WebMD, 4/9/02
• Excess Weight Gain During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer - Doctor's Guide, 4/9/02
• Pool Water Risky During Pregnancy - WebMD, 4/8/02
• Lower Birthweight Associated With Greater Adult Subcutaneous Fatness - Doctor's Guide, 4/1/02
• Delaying Childbirth May Have Long-Term Health Consequences for Mother - Doctor's Guide, 3/26/02
• Hormone Replacement Promotes Development In Extremely Premature Baby Girls - Doctor's Guide, 3/13/02
• Maternal Environmental Risk Factors Influence Foetal Immune System - Doctor's Guide, 3/12/02
• Latest Pregnancy Threat: Gum Disease - WebMD, 3/8/02 - "Gum disease is as big a threat to pregnancy as alcohol and smoking"
• Strong Link Found Between Mother's Gum Disease and Premature Birth, Low Birth Weight - Doctor's Guide, 3/7/02
• Older Moms, Dads Put Baby at Risk - WebMD, 3/5/02
• Asthmatic Women Who Smoke Have High Rate of Abnormal Births - Doctor's Guide, 3/3/02
• Older moms' babies at health risk, study finds - USA Today, 3/3/02
• Diabetes Drug [Glucophage] Helps Prevent Miscarriage - WebMD, 3/1/02
• FDA fish warning criticized - USA Today, 2/28/02
• Low Seafood Consumption Linked To Pregnancy Complications - Intelihealth, 2/28/02
• Metformin Shows Promise in Preventing Miscarriage in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - Doctor's Guide, 2/27/02
• Pregnancy and Flu: Behind the Warnings - WebMD, 2/27/02
• Pre-Pregnancy Pounds Put Mom, Baby at Risk - WebMD, 2/25/02
• New Report Links Birth Defects, Premature Birth To Being Overweight Before Pregnancy - Intelihealth, 2/25/02
• Depression Hits During, Not After, Pregnancy - Clinical Psychiatry News, 2/02
• Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Affects Function And Structure of Brain - Doctor's Guide, 1/29/02
• Predicting Premature Delivery - WebMD, 1/23/02
• FDA OKs Saliva-Based Ovulation Test - Intelihealth, 1/19/02
• Thyroid Disease Increases Birth Defects - WebMD, 1/18/02
• Mother's Diet During Pregnancy May Influence Child's Blood Pressure Later In Life - Intelihealth, 1/17/02 - "Pregnant women who consume a diet rich in animal protein and low in carbohydrates may be more likely to have children with elevated blood pressure later in life"
• Thyroid Disease Raises Risk of Birth Defects - Doctor's Guide, 1/15/02
• Drug Use, Criminality In Both Genders Tied To Maternal Prenatal Smoking - Doctor's Guide, 1/10/02
• Study Links Air Pollution, Defects - Intelihealth, 12/16/01
• Birth Weight Linked to Obesity - WebMD, 12/10/01
• Possible Risk of Miscarriage Suspected with Antidepressants - Doctor's Guide, 11/29/01
• All Pregnant Women Should Be Screened for Depression - Doctor's Guide, 11/9/01
• Drop in Stress Hormones May Set Stage for Arthritis/Multiple Sclerosis After Pregnancy - Doctor's Guide, 10/30/01
• Scientists Find Simple Way Of Identifying The Likeliest Days To Conceive - Intelihealth, 10/26/01
• Smoking During Pregnancy May Indicate Need For Psychiatric Testing - Doctor's Guide, 10/22/01
• 10 Ways to Prevent Back Pain After Delivery - WebMD, 10/17/01
• Mother's Well-Being Has Large Impact on Child's Health, Depression, Stress in Mom Lead to More TV Time in Kids - WebMD, 10/9/01
• High-dose Diclofenac Used to Treat Post-Caesarean Section Pain - Doctor's Guide, 9/20/01
• Cervix And Premature Birth Linked - Intelihealth, 9/19/01
• Birth Defects Still Happening With Accutane - WebMD, 8/17/01
• Smoking During Pregnancy May Increase Colic - WebMD, 8/8/01 - "smoking during pregnancy may increase the chances that you'll have a very cranky baby"
• Just Say No to Alcohol in Pregnancy - WebMD, 8/9/01
• Study: Depression As Common During Pregnancy As After Childbirth - Intelihealth, 8/2/01
• The Lasting Trauma of Stillbirth - WebMD, 7/24/01
• When Bed Rest Is Best - WebMD, 7/6/01
• Labor Risky After Caesarean - Intelihealth, 7/5/01
• Traveling for Two: Advice for Pregnant Vacationers - WebMD, 7/6/01
• Insulin Lispro Controls Diabetes In Pregnant Women - Doctor's Guide, 6/25/01
• Pattern of Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone Increase Signifies Fetal Distress - Doctor's Guide, 6/21/01 - "The most plausible hypothesis is that stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels in the fetus and this then stimulates the placenta to make more CRH"
• Choosing a Disease-Free Baby - WebMD, 6/18/01
• Food Tastes May Pass From Mother to Baby During Pregnancy and Nursing - WebMD, 6/6/01
• Pregnant Women Need a Balanced Diet That's 'Just Right' - WebMD, 6/1/01 - "Women given supplements containing large amounts of protein actually had babies that were smaller on average than women who did not take the supplements. That led the government, which sets the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), to lower its recommended level of daily protein for pregnant women from 74 grams per day to 60 grams"
• Massage Not Effective for Preventing Tearing During Labor, Technique Isn't Harmful, But Shows No Overwhelming Benefit - WebMD, 5/24/01
• Treatment Of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension A Three-Step Process - Doctor's Guide, 5/18/01
• Kegel Exercises Help Incontinence After Pregnancy, Simple Contractions Keep Pelvic Muscles Toned - WebMD, 5/21/01
• A Mother's Dilemma: Using Antidepressants During Pregnancy, It May Be Dangerous Not to Treat, Doctors Say - WebMD, 5/17/0
• Many moms lie about drinking during pregnancy - USA Today, 4/24/01 - "Only about one in 20 women who drink during pregnancy admits it on her child's birth certificate"
• Tips for the Ever-Increasing Group of Women Having Babies in Their 30s, 40s - WebMD, 4/20/01
• Expectant Moms, Can the Fish, Environmental Groups Expand FDA's List of Unsafe Seafood - WebMD, 4/12/01 - "Methylmercury is a toxic form of mercury that gathers in fish tissue. Absorbed by the fish from pollution and from other water creatures, it poses health threats to developing brains and nervous systems of unborn babies"
• Study Addresses Schizophrenia Link - Intelihealth, 4/12/01 - "men who fathered children at ages 45 to 49 were twice as likely as those under 25 to have schizophrenic children, and men 50 and older were three times more likely"
• Seizure Drugs Linked to Birth Defects, Newer Drugs May Reduce Risk of Defects - WebMD, 4/11/01 - "21% who took one antiseizure drug and 28% who took two antiseizure drugs had babies born with a major or minor birth defect, compared with 8.5% of women who did not have epilepsy. On the other hand, mothers who had epilepsy but took no antiseizure drugs had a rate of birth defects similar to that of women who did not have epilepsy"
• Stressed Moms May Deliver Early - WebMD, 4/6/01 - "when traumatic or emotional situations occur, levels of the body's stress hormones, including cortisol, increase ... stressful events in the first few weeks of pregnancy may put them at risk for having a baby with birth defects of the face, lips, or heart"
• Pain drugs linked to risk of lung defect - USA Today, 3/7/01 - "pregnant women who took aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, were far more likely to deliver newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension, or PPHN"
• Some Over-the-Counter Pain Drugs Linked to Severe Newborn Illness, If Pregnant, Remember to Use Medications With Caution - WebMD, 3/5/01
• Blood Pressure, Older Mothers Studied - Intelihealth, 3/4/01 - "Babies born to older mothers tend to have significantly higher than usual blood pressure"

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