Aurora magazine

Taking omega 3 fats from the 20th week of gestation until the 4th month of breastfeeding reduces the risk of allergies in the child. This is what an analysis of the Imperial College of London reveals.

The British researchers analyzed over 400 studies, analyzing the data of about 1.5 million people. They focused on the 15,000 women who took omega 3 in pregnancy and on their children. According to the study, omega 3 intake reduced the risk of egg allergy in children by 30%.

The study has denied a common belief. According to many, we should avoid potentially allergenic foods to reduce the risk of allergies in the child. Analysis data have revealed that this idea is groundless. Instead, supplements based on probiotics and omega 3 seem to have positively influenced the health of children. The second part of the study focused on the link between probiotics and allergies.

The researchers also analyzed data from over 6,000 pregnant women who had taken probiotics. The supplements were given from the 36th week of gestation until the 6th month of breastfeeding. For the children of these women, the risk of developing atopic dermatitis would have been 22% less.

The study could influence the guidelines regarding nutrition during pregnancy. The problem of food allergies is in fact very much felt in the United Kingdom, especially for the youngest. It is estimated that allergies affect about 1 in 20 children. They are caused by abnormalities in the immune system and part of the causes are still unknown.

Source: corriere.it

A team of Canadian researchers has developed a genetic test to identify fetal alcohol syndrome. The test uses DNA methylation and serves to facilitate diagnosis in the absence of obvious symptoms. In some cases, in fact, the child does not show any physical sign of disorder while suffering from it.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Causes physical alterations, behavioral problems and cognitive deficits. Many affected individuals show obvious malformations and problems in the central nervous system. In the presence of these symptoms, the sad diagnosis is early and almost obvious. Nevertheless, it is much more difficult to identify the disorder in those who show behavioral symptoms without physical malformations.

An early diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome is essential to ensure effective treatment. Unfortunately, consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is often underestimated. In case of doubtful diagnosis, therefore, interviewing the mother is only partially useful. For this reason, a Canadian team used DNA analysis to facilitate the diagnosis of the disorder.

The researchers analyzed the DNA of 48 individuals, 24 affected by the syndrome and 24 no. Patients were between 3 and 18 years. They focused on epigenetic changes, which affect DNA methylation. They identified a series of changes related to prenatal alcohol exposure and related to fetal alcohol syndrome.

The results of the study will allow to use epigenetic biomarkers to diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome. In this way it will be easier to guarantee an effective and early treatment for those who suffer from it.

Source: medicalnewsbulletin.com

In women with polycystic ovaries, it has proved more effective to use frozen embryos than fresh embryos. A Chinese study then verified whether the same results were found in women with a regular cycle.

The researchers followed 2,157 women between the ages of 20 and 35 who were undergoing in vitro fertilization. All women had a regular cycle, so between 21 and 35 days. None of them had problems related to high blood pressure, diabetes, polycystic ovaries. In contrast, in the group there were women with fallopian tube problems or those suffering from unexplained infertility. In some cases, the cause of infertility was related to the male partner.

Each woman followed a cycle of gonadotropin-releasing hormone to stimulate ovulation. Following oocyte fertilization, doctors implanted fresh embryos in half of the participants. These also received extra progesterone treatment. The other half of the participants, however, received frozen embryos.

The rate of parts in the two groups was similar: 50.2% for the group of fresh embryos and 48.7% for that of the frozen embryos. However, in the first group there was a much higher rate of abortion in the second quarter (4.7%) than in the second group (1.5%). Furthermore, women who used frozen embryos had fewer problems with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Source: medicalnewsbulletin.com

Playing sports during pregnancy lowers insulin levels and blood pressure. It therefore reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension, with a beneficial effect on mother and child. This is revealed by a team of Norwegian scientists, who analyzed the answers to an exercise program for pregnant women.

The researchers carried out the exercise program between September 2010 and March 2015. In this time frame, 70 women were divided into two groups. The first, composed of 36 women, trained three times a week with 35 minutes of walking / running and 25 minutes of exercises. The second group, composed of 34 women, received standard prenatal care.

The women in the movement group had fewer problems in postpartum weight loss. They also showed lower levels of insulin and lower blood pressure, probably due to increased physical activity. The lower presence of insulin in the blood also lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In the group that was dedicated to standard prenatal care, 3 women developed type 2 diabetes. In the second group, however, none had this problem. In addition, 46.4% of women continued to exercise even after giving birth.

Source: diabetes.co.uk