Dr. Mercola May 10 2003 1,450 views
A study on sheep may help explain why preterm births occur in humans--sheep fed a low-calorie diet tend to have a higher risk of premature delivery, according to a study.
Ten sheep were fed a diet meant to lower the animals’ body weight by 15 percent--defined as mild to moderate nutrient restriction--prior to mating and for the first part of pregnancy. The sheep were fed normally for the remainder of pregnancy.
Sheep on the restricted diet delivered lambs an average of seven days earlier than sheep fed a normal diet.
The reason why this effect occurred is not known, however researchers suggested that the mother may send a signal to the embryo letting it know that the nutritional environment is poor, and the embryo may modify growth rate and length of gestation accordingly.
It also appeared that a lack of nutrients accelerated the development of the lambs' adrenal glands, which may trigger birth by stimulating the release of hormones.
It does not appear that the effects of being undernourished during conception can be reversed by eating more during pregnancy, according to researchers.
Premature birth, which is the number one cause of death among newborn babies, is associated with a greater risk of mental and physical problems.
As the study results indicate that even modest restrictions in diet around the time of conception can lead to premature birth, researchers suggest that women of childbearing age should eat a healthy, balanced diet and should not diet substantially before the start of pregnancy.
Science April 25, 2003;300:606
It would seem intuitively obvious that a pregnant woman should eat enough calories during pregnancy to supply her baby with all the nutrients it requires to stay healthy.
The proposed mechanism in this study makes sense, but it seems to me that they have discounted the incredible importance of omega-3 fats. If a woman has a lower calorie diet, it would certainly make sense that she is generally also decreasing her intake of omega-3 fats.
This doesn’t have to be the case, but very few people are aware of the importance of omega-3 fats during pregnancy. It certainly is possible, but not very wise, to have a low-calorie diet during pregnancy and have sufficient omega-3 fats if one was taking a supplement.
Of course, a supplement would be far preferred as even the hyper conservative FDA joined the ranks of the EPA and recommended that pregnant woman avoid fish during pregnancy. Eight percent of American women consume enough mercury from fish during pregnancy to cause neurodevelopmental delays in their children.
I expanded on this issue in a recent letter I wrote to the New York Times.
Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to your, and your children's, health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil and cod liver oil, as, unlike other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. The human brain is also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.
When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is important to remember that not all brands are the same. In my research--and in my clinical experience with my patients--I have found that 1) the liquid form is superior to capsules; 2) that certain brands definitely seem inferior to others; 3) that the Carlson's brand of fish oil/cod liver oil is of an exceptional quality and purity. It is likely not the only brand in the world of such high quality, but up to this point it is the only one of such quality that I can recommend, so I now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com; you can also check your local health food store to see if they carry it.
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