Latest News

    • Home
    • Food & Health
    • Mums-to-be, don’t avoid carbs in your diet. It could lead to a higher risk of birth defects in babies
    Mums-to-be, don’t avoid carbs in your diet. It could lead to a higher risk of birth defects in babies
    Thursday, January 25, 2018 IST
    Mums-to-be, don’t avoid carbs in your diet. It could lead to a higher risk of birth defects in babies

    A study found that women with low carbohydrate intake are 30% more likely to have babies with neural tube defects.

     
     

    A new study infers effects of low carbohydrate intake on pregnant women. It states that women who are pregnant or are planning to be should avoid diet that reduce or eliminate carbohydrates. According to the new study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, low carbohydrate intake could increase the risk of having babies with neural tube birth defects.
     
    It found that women with low carbohydrate intake are 30% more likely to have babies with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida (malformations of the spine and spinal cord), and anencephaly (absence of major portions of the brain and skull), that can lead to lifelong disability and infant death, when compared with women who do not restrict their carbohydrate intake.
     
    A first to evaluate the relationship between low carbohydrate intake and having children with neural tube defects, the study was led by Tania Desrosiers, PhD, MPH, and research assistant professor of epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
     
    Desrosiers said, “We already know that maternal diet before and during early pregnancy plays a significant role in fetal development. What is new about this study is its suggestion that low carbohydrate intake could increase the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect by 30 percent. This is concerning because low carbohydrate diets are fairly popular”.
     
    She insisted that the finding reinforces the importance for women who may become pregnant to talk to their health care provider about any special diets or eating behaviors they practice. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that minimizes the risk of neural tube defects. In 1998 the Food and Drug Administration began requiring that folic acid be added to enriched grain products.
     
    Desrosiers and her study collaborators found that dietary intake of folic acid among women with restricted carbohydrate intake was less than half of other women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women who may become pregnant take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 micro-grams of folic acid every day before and during pregnancy.
     
    However, because almost half of all pregnancies in America are unplanned, many women do not initiate folic acid supplementation until later in pregnancy, after a neural tube defect may have occurred. This makes fortified foods an important source of folic acid for women who may become pregnant. 

     
     
     
     
     

    Related Topics

     
     
     

    Trending News & Articles

     Article
    12 Early Signs Of Lung Cancer To Never Ignore

    Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...

    Recently posted . 7K views . 2 min read
     

     Article
    11 Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit

    The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...

    Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
     

     Article
    10 Amazing Benefits Of Bael (Kaitha)

    Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...

    Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
     

     Article
    These 7 Remedies Can Remove The Milia (Milk Spots) From Your Face

    Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...

    Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
     

     
     

    More in Food & Health

     Article
    Delhi Daredevils Change Name to Delhi Capitals

    IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils have renamed themselves as Delhi Capitals ahead of the 12th edition of the tournament. The announcement was made at an event in the...

    Recently posted. 522 views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    U-19 World Cup: Captain Prithvi Shaw Confident of Good Showing from Team India

      Christchurch: Prithvi Shaw, captain of India's U-19 World Cup team, on Sunday said his team has prepared well under the...

    Recently posted. 550 views . 2 min read
     

     Article
    ICC Champions Trophy: BCCI announces 15-man squad; no place for Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir

    New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday reported the 15-man squad for up and coming ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England. The se...

    Recently posted. 724 views . 19 min read
     

     Video
    Pune's Thickest Rolls



    Recently posted . 759 views
     

     Video
    LEMON BUTTER CHICKEN THIGHS



    Recently posted . 1K views
     

     Article
    1st T20I: Blistering Jos Buttler Sets Up England T20 Win Over Australia

    Buttler, fresh from his man of the series heroics in a 5-0 one-day international sweep of Australia, including a match-winning 110 not out in a dramatic one-wicket ...

    Recently posted. 687 views . 1 min read
     

     Article
    Ernesto Valverde explains why he brought Lionel Messi on against Alaves

    The captain arrived with the visitors already 2-0 up

    Recently posted. 597 views . 0 min read
     

     
     
     

       Prashnavali

      Thought of the Day

    “Everyone has gone through something that has changed them in a way that they could never go back to the person they once were.”
    Anonymous

    Be the first one to comment on this story

    Close
    Post Comment
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
    Shibu Chandran
    2 hours ago

    Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

    November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


    ads
    Back To Top