Aurora magazine

Following the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, with all the consequent negative consequences. This is what is supported by a clinical trial conducted by Queen Mary University of London and the University of Warwick.

The classic Mediterranean diet, including 30 grams of dried fruit and extra virgin olive oil, lowers the risk of getting sick by 35%. Moreover, the women who follow her earn about 1.25 pounds less than the average. It could therefore be an excellent solution for obese, hypertensive or high-lipid women. In the UK, about 1 in 4 women start their pregnancy with obesity, high blood pressure or high lipids.

This exposes her to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular complications. This is to emphasize how important it is for this country - but not only - to find a diet that contrasts all the phenomena in question.

The trial involved around 1,252 British women with different cultures of origin. Half of them were prescribed the Mediterranean diet, while the other half followed the standard directions in the United Kingdom. Women in the first group had fewer gestational diabetes problems and gained less weight. Nevertheless, there were no effects on preeclampsia and high blood pressure. The English guidelines concerning the diet during pregnancy do not include some key components of the Mediterranean diet.

There are no dried fruit, fresh fruit, whole grains, olive oil. According to the authors of the study, instead, all these foods should be reduced and both animal fats and sugars should be reduced. If necessary, it is also advisable to adapt the diet bases to kitchens belonging to different cultures.

Source: qmul.ac.uk

New evidence supports the need to test all pregnant women for hepatitis B, so as not to infect newborns. According to a study by the University of Stanford, which analyzed the possible benefits of generalizing the practice. Children become ill with hepatitis B especially at the time of delivery.

The disease becomes chronic, evolves into cirrhosis or carcinoma. To avoid this, it would be enough to know in advance if the mother is ill. In this way it would be possible to reduce the risk of infection during childbirth. The US doctors had advised extending the practice to all in 1996. They repeated the recommendation in 2009, supporting it with the studies of Dr. Jillian Henderson. This new recommendation confirms the above, but is based on more recent analyzes.

The authors started from a 2012 study and a 2014 study, both focusing on prenatal screening programs. The purpose of the analysis was to verify the effective utility of a systematic serological test against hepatitis B. These confirmed the accuracy of the current tests and the efficacy in preventing the perinatal transmission of the disease. Furthermore, new studies show that there are benefits for future mothers too.

Recent studies have shown that antiviral treatments in pregnancy reduce or eliminate fetal infections. The possible side effects for mom and baby are minimal, so there are no contraindications. Unfortunately, only 84% of US women do the necessary checks. The remaining percentage exposes itself and the child to a series of problems that could be avoided with little.

Source: medpagetoday.com

According to a study by the University of Aberdeen, about 1 in 6 women conceive naturally after failed IVF cycles. The researchers analyzed data from 2,133 women who had undergone treatments between 1998 and 2011. Of these, around 1,073 had failed to have a child with assisted reproduction. Yet 17% of them became pregnant in the following 5 years.

Dr. David McLernon explains that IVF is a laborious experience, both physically and psychologically. Failure of cycles can be a blow to couples, but they should not lose heart. The study proves that the chances of conceiving are there even when everything seems lost. The study in question is one of the first to examine the issue and is the largest on the subject. Previous studies have always involved a limited number of people, relying so much on interviews and little on objective data. An important gap, which McLernon and his team have filled.

The theme affects thousands of couples in the UK alone. The fertility treatment cycles are around 75,000 each year, 70,000 of which are in vitro fertilization. In women under 35, the success rate is around 29%. In women between the ages of 35 and 37 it is around 24% and in those over 38 it drops to 17%. Among those over 44, the success rate is around 3%.

Source: independent.co.uk

According to researchers at King's College London and the University of North Carolina, anorexia could have genetic bases. In fact, the study reveals some characteristics of metabolic diseases, all linked to 8 genetic variants.

The discovery is based on data collected from over 100 studies worldwide. In particular, the researchers combined the data collected by Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative and Eating Disorders Working Group. In all, they examined 16,992 cases of anorexia and 55,525 people belonging to the control group, from 17 countries. A psychiatric and genetic picture emerged. From what has emerged, anorexia has traits of metabolic disorders of genetic origin. Until now, anomalies of this type were largely attributed to the lack of food. Yet, according to scholars, some of these are prior to the disease and are partly the cause.

They could even play an important role as psychiatric components. Many of these affect the way the body absorbs fats and also the propensity to exercise. This could explain why a good chunk of anorexic people is very active, despite the lack of nutrients. The problems in question intersect with other psychiatric disorders, such as OCD and depression. The authors of the study believe that a thorough analysis of the metabolic components could help to tackle the disease. If the findings were confirmed, in fact, all current treatments should be rethought.

Source: kcl.ac.uk