pregnancy diet Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Weight Loss Surgery Undergone Before Pregnancy May Influence Children’s Weight Gain

The AHA! Team — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 08:29:54 +0000

The Endocrine Society via EurekAlert! – BOSTON—The type of weight loss surgery women undergo before becoming pregnant may affect how much weight their children gain in the first three years of life, suggests a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass. Researchers found children born to women who underwent the bariatric procedure known as sleeve gastrectomy before they became pregnant gain more weight per month on average in the first three years of life compared with children born to women who had the less common Roux-en-Y gastric bypass weight loss procedure. “Either the extent of pre-pregnancy weight loss or the metabolic changes from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may be favorable for the children’s early childhood weight gain,” said researcher Vidhu Thaker, M.D., of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, N.Y. Maternal obesity is a risk factor for obesity in children. Women are more likely to conceive following weight loss procedures, but less is known about the early growth of the children born after pre-pregnancy weight loss procedures. Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are two of the more common types of weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric and metabolic surgery. These surgeries result in sustained weight loss and improve the body’s metabolism in the majority of patients. In vertical sleeve gastrectomy (also called gastric sleeve surgery), a surgeon removes most of the stomach, leaving only a banana-shaped section that is closed with staples. By removing a part of the stomach that makes hormones that drive hunger, this procedure also decreases appetite. In gastric bypass, the surgeon divides the stomach into two parts, sealing off the upper section from the lower. The surgeon then connects the upper stomach directly to the lower section of the small intestine. This creates a shortcut for food, bypassing part of the stomach and the small intestine. Skipping these parts of the digestive tract means the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients. The researchers examined the weight and length of offspring born after pre-pregnancy weight loss procedures in the first three years of life. The study used data from 20,515 deliveries over three years, of which 450 had pre-pregnancy weight loss procedures. Among the mothers who underwent weight loss surgery, 57% had sleeve gastrectomy and 41% had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Long-term weight and length data were available for about half of the babies in each group. The researchers found there was no difference in birth weight among the babies born after weight loss surgery. The pace of weight gain was higher in those born after pre-pregnancy sleeve gastrectomy compared to those born following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, while adjusting for several other variables including pre-pregnancy body mass index. “While we did not have data on the magnitude of weight loss following bariatric surgery, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is known to have higher weight loss and metabolic changes compared to sleeve gastrectomy,” Thaker noted. The authors concluded that the either the extent of pre-pregnancy weight loss or the metabolic changes from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may be favorable for the offspring’s early childhood weight trajectory. “A study of the mechanisms underlying the associations of the sustained pre-pregnancy weight loss and the offspring’s early life growth may also apply to other methods of weight loss, including the most recently approved anti-obesity medications,” Thaker said. # # # Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia. To read the original article click here.

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Urgent: 25% of Pregnant Women Risk Omega-3 Deficiency

The AHA! Team — Mon, 06 May 2024 18:02:57 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to a healthy diet and provide many benefits, including brain and heart health. However, a recent study says pregnant women may not get enough omega-3 from their diet or supplements. Getting enough omega-3 during pregnancy can help prevent preterm birth and promote neurodevelopment and overall health of the baby. This gives babies a good, healthy start in life, but almost a quarter of the study participants reported that they did not eat any fish or take any omega-3 supplements during their pregnancy. Research reveals omega-3 deficiency common among expectant mothers A recent study, led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and published on February 27, 2024, sheds light on omega-3 deficiency in pregnant women. Drawing data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, the study examined the dietary habits of 10,800 pregnant women regarding fish consumption and supplement intake from 12,646 expectant mothers. After carefully examining the data, the study reveals a concerning reality: many pregnant women are at significant risk of omega-3 deficiency. 25% of pregnant women lack omega-3-rich fish consumption The study’s findings showed that almost a quarter (25%) of the participants reported not consuming any fish or consuming fish less than once a month during their pregnancy. It also showed that just 16% of the women reported taking omega-3 supplements. The findings also showed that women who consumed less fish were also less likely to use omega-3 supplements. This put that group at an even greater risk of not getting sufficient omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Potential risks of omega-3 deficiency during pregnancy There are several risks that an omega-3 deficiency can cause in infants and fetuses. Omega-3 is vital not only for a child’s neurodevelopment after birth but also for fetal brain development. Omega-3 deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to lower behavior and developmental scores. There are also benefits for the pregnant mother. Omega-3 intake during pregnancy has also been linked to regulating inflammation, preventing heart disease, and preventing mood disorders. It can also be beneficial for many medical conditions, such as IBS, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. In short, omega-3 intake during pregnancy can benefit both mother and baby. How to make sure you get enough omega-3 While there isn’t a set daily recommended intake for omega-3, guidelines for alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, offer insight into suggested amounts: Pregnant women: 1.4 g Breastfeeding women: 1.3 g Children: Birth to 12 months: 0.5 g 1-3 years: 0.7 g 4-8 years: 0.9 g Boys 9-13 years: 1.2 g Girls 9-13 years: 1.0 g Teens: Boys 14-18 years: 1.6 g Girls 14-18 years: 1.1 g Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet can be achieved through supplements or by consuming foods rich in omega-3s daily, such as: Cold water, fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, herring, and sardines Nuts and seeds such as chia seeds, flaxseed, and walnuts Plant oils like, flaxseed oil Whole foods like organic milk, pasture raised eggs and raw yogurt Bottom line: prioritizing good prenatal care alongside a wholesome diet can benefit both the baby’s and the mother’s health. Fortunately, incorporating enough omega-3 into your diet is relatively straightforward. Take action now – your baby is counting on you. Sources for this article include: Cambridge.org Sciencedaily.com NIH.gov Americanpregnancy.org NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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High Fructose Diet in Pregnancy Impacts Metabolism of Offspring, Study Finds

AHA Publisher — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 07:00:30 +0000

University of Otago via Newswise – An increased level of fructose intake during pregnancy can cause significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk composition and alter the metabolism of their offspring, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found. The research, which was led by Dr Clint Gray, a Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, found increasing the fructose in the diets of female guinea pigs led to highly significant and consistent changes in the free fatty acids circulating in the blood of their offspring. This was despite the offspring consuming no fructose themselves. The research is published in the international journal Frontiers in Endocrinology. First author, PhD student Erin Smith, says “previous research has shown poor quality nutrition during pregnancy can predispose offspring to long-term consequences, including the development of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life”. “However, there has been a lack of data examining the impact of increased fructose intake before and during pregnancy and subsequent adverse effects on lactation, fetal development and offspring metabolic function.” The two experimental groups were fed either a control diet or a fructose diet prior to and during pregnancy. The fructose group was given supplementary fructose water to replicate increased sugar-sweetened beverage intake 60 days prior to mating and until the delivery of their offspring. Fructose made up 16.5 per cent of their diets, closely resembling the average human consumption of fructose/sugar in Western countries, which is estimated at about 14 per cent of average daily caloric intake. “We found fructose had a significant impact on a pregnant females’ metabolic status and the free fatty acid content of their milk. We also provide the first evidence that offspring born from fructose-fed mothers display a very specific pattern of increased free fatty acids and altered lipid metabolism that persists throughout early life.” Ms Smith says it is well known that increased levels of circulating free fatty acids increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – with increased fatty acid synthesis shown to occur following fructose consumption. She says the evidence suggests suboptimal maternal diets, such as diets high in fructose and refined sugars, may be contributing to the rise in metabolic diseases in humans observed during the past 40 to 50 years. “Our study emphasises the importance of limiting added refined fructose, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, and striving for a more nutritionally balanced diet in women prior to and during pregnancy and lactation.” To read the original article click here.

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