DHA Supplementation May Help with Prevent Premature Birth
Razi Berry Early preterm births may be dramatically decreased with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements, with a dose of 1000 mg more effective for pregnant women with low DHA levels than the 200 mg found in some prenatal supplements, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Kansas and the University of Cincinnati […]
No Amount of Smoke is Safe During Pregnancy
Razi Berry Nearly a quarter of pregnant women say they’ve been around secondhand smoke — in their homes, at work, around a friend or relative — which, according to new research, is linked to epigenetic changes — meaning changes to how genes are regulated rather than changes to the genetic code itself — in babies […]
The Three Most Impactful Ages of Alcohol Use on Brain Health
Razi Berry The evidence for the harmful effects of alcohol on brain health is compelling, but now experts have pin-pointed three key time periods in life when the effects of alcohol are likely to be at their greatest. Writing in The BMJ today, researchers in Australia and the UK say evidence suggests three periods of […]
No Safe Amount of Caffeine During Pregnancy
Razi Berry Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should be advised to avoid caffeine because the evidence suggests that maternal caffeine consumption is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes and that there is no safe level of consumption, finds an analysis of observational studies published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. Caffeine is probably the […]
STDs in the U.S. Still on the Rise, Reports CDC
Razi Berry Combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached an all-time high in the United States in 2018, according to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can have severe health consequences. Among the most tragic are newborn deaths […]
Contents of Processed Foods could Be Affecting Fetus’ Developing Brain
Razi Berry With the number of children diagnosed with autism on the rise, the need to find what causes the disorder becomes more urgent every day. University of Central Florida (UCF) researchers are now a step closer to showing the link between the food pregnant women consume and the effects on a fetus’ developing brain. […]
Common Household Chemical Exposure of Mother Inhibits Child Growth
Razi Berry For the first time, researchers have shown that a combination of perfluorinated substances in the mother significantly inhibits child growth. They make many everyday things easier, such as keeping children’s feet dry in waterproofed boots, stopping the meat balls sticking to the frying pan and making it easier to clean the carpet. Perfluorinated […]
Could Chemicals in Cosmetics be Causing Early Puberty?
Razi Berry A recent study supports the theory that phthalates, parabens and phenols commonly used in personal care products could be contributing to earlier onset of puberty in girls. These environmental toxins, are considered “endocrine disruptors” and are thought to mimic female sex hormones. The study, Association of phthalates, parabens and phenols found in personal […]
Review: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Premature Birth Risk
Razi Berry A new Cochrane Review has found that increasing the intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) during pregnancy reduces the risk of premature births. Premature birth is the leading cause of death for children under 5 years old worldwide Premature birth is the leading cause of death for children under 5 years […]
Treatment for STD, Could be Ineffective in Some Cases
Razi Berry From Tulane University A new study led by an infectious disease epidemiologist at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine could change the way doctors treat a common sexually transmitted disease. The most common curable STD Professor Patricia Kissinger and a team of researchers found the recommended single dose of medication […]