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Issue # 66.7 - Pregnancy/Infant/Child HealthEffects of micronutrient supplementation on maternal biological status and newborn anthropometrics measurements A recent study investigated the possible beneficial effects of a micronutrient supplementation to 65 apparently healthy pregnant women on maternal biological status and newborn physical characteristics, such as height and weight, by daily consuming a micronutrient supplement or placebo over the gestation period. The mothers' plasma micronutrient levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured at 14 and 38 weeks of gestation and the newborn's anthropometric characteristics were measured at delivery. The results showed that in the supplemented group, folic acid, vitamin C, E, B2, B6 and beta-carotene levels were higher than in the placebo group. Birth weights were increased by 10% and the number of low newborn weights decreased significantly when the mother received supplementation. These results suggest that the use of combined micronutrient supplements improve babies and maternal biological status and emphasises that optimal micronutrient nutrition should be encouraged. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 52-59 Reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes? In Norway, cod liver oil is an important source of dietary vitamin D and the long-chain n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, all of which have biological properties of potential relevance for the prevention of type 1 diabetes. The main objective was to investigate whether the use of dietary cod liver oil or other vitamin D supplements, either by the mother during pregnancy or by the child during the first year of life, is associated with a lower risk of type 1 diabetes among children. The results showed that the use of cod liver oil in the first year of life was associated with a significantly lower risk of type 1 diabetes. It concluded that cod liver oil may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, perhaps through the anti-inflammatory effects of long-chain n-3 fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Dec;78(6):1128-34. Can oral magnesium reduce frequent migrainous headaches in children? A study was carried out to assess whether oral magnesium can reduce migrainous headache frequency, severity, and associated features in children compared to placebo. They recruited children of ages 3 to 17 years who reported a 4-week history of moderate-to-severe headache with a throbbing or pulsatile quality, associated anorexia/nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or relief with sleep, but no fever or evidence of infection. They received either magnesium (9 mg/kg per day by mouth divided 3 times a day with food) or matching placebo for 16 weeks. Results showed a statistically significant decrease over time in headache frequency and severity in the magnesium group but not in the placebo group. This study shows that treatment with magnesium may lead to a significant reduction in migrainous headache days in children. Headache.2003 Jun;43(6):601-10
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