Exposure to high pollution levels during pregnancy may increase risk of having child with autism

Women in the U.S. exposed to high levels of air pollution while pregnant were up to twice as likely to have a child with autism as women who lived in areas with low pollution, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). It is the first large national study to examine …

Folic acid supplements early in pregnancy may reduce child’s risk of autism by 40 percent

Large study in Norway finds early timing of supplements is critical: Prenatal folic acid supplements appear to reduce the risk for autistic spectrum disorders, according to a study published today (February 13) in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 1 in 88 children …

Prenatal folic acid supplementation associated with lower risk of autism

In a study that included approximately 85,000 Norwegian children, maternal use of supplemental folic acid from 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after the start of pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of autistic disorder in children, according to a study appearing in the February 13 issue of JAMA. “Supplementation with folic acid around the …

Antibiotics During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Epilepsy in Children

foodconsumer.org – Prenatal antibiotics linked to high risk of epilepsyMonday Oct 22, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) — A new study in Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology suggests that taking cystitis antibiotics during pregnancy increases risk of epilepsy in children. J. E. Miller of School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA and colleagues conducted the study …

A Diet High in Choline During Pregnancy May Mean Less Stress for Baby

New research from Cornell University indicates that pregnant women who increase choline intake in the third trimester of pregnancy may reduce the risk of the baby developing metabolic and chronic stress-related diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes later in life (1). The results, published in the latest edition of the Journal of the Federation of …

Prenatal Choline May Program Healthier Babies

Increased maternal intake of the nutrient choline could reduce their kid’s chances of developing hypertension and diabetes later in life. In a study led by Marie Caudill, associate professor of nutritional sciences, and graduate student Xinyin Jiang, a group of third-trimester pregnant women consumed 930 milligrams of choline, more than double the recommended 450 milligram …

Mother’s Diet Influences Baby’s Allergies — New Research

A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified in new research published in this month’s The Journal of Physiology. The research found that if a mother’s diet contains a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) – such as those found in fish, …

Vitamin D Supplements Found To Be Safe For Healthy Pregnant Women

Use of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy has long been a matter of concern but now researchers writing in theJournal of Bone and Mineral Research report that even a high supplementation amount in healthy pregnant women was safe and effective in raising circulating vitamin D to a level thought by some to be optimal. The …