14 DAY TRIAL // According to a new investigation whose findings have recently been published in The Journal of Nutrition, a poor diet before pregnancy can be linked to an increased preterm birth risk.
Thus, scientists with the University of Adelaide in Australia claim that women who opt for unhealthy foods on a regular basis before they become pregnant are more likely to deliver their children before term.
In their paper in The Journal of Nutrition, specialists detail that, according to information at hand, women who eat a poor diet before getting pregnant have a 50% higher preterm birth risk than women who make healthy choices food-wise.
The University of Adelaide researchers warn that, as shown by previous studies, children born before term are more vulnerable to various diseases. What's more, they are more likely to die during their first few months of life.
“Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant disease and death and occurs in approximately one in 10 pregnancies globally,” study leader Dr. Jessica Grieger explains in a statement.
“Anything we can do to better understand the conditions that lead to preterm birth will be important in helping to improve survival and long-term health outcomes for children,” the researcher adds.
As detailed on the official website for the University of Adelaide, the claim that women who eat a poor diet prior to pregnancy have an increased preterm delivery risk is based on information collected while monitoring 300 South Australian women.
Of these, some chiefly ate foods with a high protein content and fruit. Others preferred to snack on unhealthy treats with a high fat and sugar content, and also opted for takeaways instead of home-cooked meals quite often.
Of the 300 women that the researchers monitored as part of this investigation, those whose diet was based on healthy foods high in protein and fruit were found to be less likely to deliver their children before term. The others were found to have trouble carrying a pregnancy to term.
“In our study, women who ate protein-rich foods including lean meats, fish and chicken, as well as fruit, whole grains and vegetables, had significantly lower risk of preterm birth,” Dr. Jessica Grieger explains.
Furthermore, “On the other hand, women who consumed mainly discretionary foods, such as takeaway, potato chips, cakes, biscuits, and other foods high in saturated fat and sugar were more likely to have babies born preterm.”
In light of their findings, the specialists behind this research project recommend that women who wish to become mothers watch their diet not just while expecting, but also before they become pregnant.