Vitamin B-12 May Prevent Canker Sores
December 2009
Do you suffer from recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), commonly known as canker sores? Well, scientists in Israel have shown that those suffering from canker sores may have another treatment option—vitamin B-12.
Researchers headquartered at Ben-Gurion University said: "The frequency of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), the most common oral mucosa lesions seen in primary care, is up to 25% in the general population. However, there has been no optimal therapeutic approach. Our objective was to confirm our previous clinical observations of the beneficial treatment of RAS with vitamin B-12."
The researchers gave 1,000 mcg of vitamin B-12 (or a placebo) to 58 canker sore patients every night for six months. About 74% of those who took vitamin B-12 went into remission, whereas only 32% of the placebo group achieved this result. Of interest, the number of mouth sores and the length of time before ulcers were gone shortened in both groups after four months. These factors "were reduced significantly at five and six months of treatment with vitamin B-12," the researchers reported.
Overall, the group concluded: "Vitamin B-12 treatment, which is simple, inexpensive and low-risk, seems to be effective for patients suffering from RAS (i.e. canker sores), regardless of the serum vitamin B-12 level."
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 22(1):9-16, 2009
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Mindful Eating? Or Eating Under The Influence?(EUI)
E.U.I. (Eating Under the Influence)
By Pavel G. Somov, Ph.D.
December 29, 2009
Much of our eating is habitual, i.e. under the influence of the environment.
I invite you to ponder the following question: Who (and what) influences your eating and how?
Ask yourself:
Who triggers me to eat well?
Who encourages me to eat mindfully, to savor, to eat healthy?
Who triggers me to indulge, overeat, go off diet/regimen?
Who gives me the permission to be “bad?”
Who “come-ons” me to “enjoy myself” only to justify their own urge to binge?
Who triggers me to stress-eat, binge-eat, cope-eat, react-eat?
Who do I cope with by eating?
Who is my “junk-food” person?
Who always dials up for a pizza or taunts your appetite with French fries?
Who is my “sweets” person?
Who always bakes cookies, invites me out for ice-cream, or brings in donuts?
Who in my life needs me to eat to connect with me?
Who expresses their love for me through feeding?
Whose eating do I influence and how?
“Bonus” question:
How does your substance use (if any) affect your eating patterns?
Craving Control tips
Mindful New Year to you all!
Pavel Somov, Ph.D. is the author of "Eating the Moment" (New Harbinger, 2008), "Present Perfect" (NH, 2010), and "The Lotus Effect" (NH, 2010). He is in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information visit www.eatingthemoment.com and sign up for Pavel Somov's (free) blog feed Sapience/formerly Mindful-not-Mouthful
By Pavel G. Somov, Ph.D.
December 29, 2009
Much of our eating is habitual, i.e. under the influence of the environment.
I invite you to ponder the following question: Who (and what) influences your eating and how?
Ask yourself:
Who triggers me to eat well?
Who encourages me to eat mindfully, to savor, to eat healthy?
Who triggers me to indulge, overeat, go off diet/regimen?
Who gives me the permission to be “bad?”
Who “come-ons” me to “enjoy myself” only to justify their own urge to binge?
Who triggers me to stress-eat, binge-eat, cope-eat, react-eat?
Who do I cope with by eating?
Who is my “junk-food” person?
Who always dials up for a pizza or taunts your appetite with French fries?
Who is my “sweets” person?
Who always bakes cookies, invites me out for ice-cream, or brings in donuts?
Who in my life needs me to eat to connect with me?
Who expresses their love for me through feeding?
Whose eating do I influence and how?
“Bonus” question:
How does your substance use (if any) affect your eating patterns?
Craving Control tips
Mindful New Year to you all!
Pavel Somov, Ph.D. is the author of "Eating the Moment" (New Harbinger, 2008), "Present Perfect" (NH, 2010), and "The Lotus Effect" (NH, 2010). He is in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information visit www.eatingthemoment.com and sign up for Pavel Somov's (free) blog feed Sapience/formerly Mindful-not-Mouthful
Gingko Biloba No Starter on Mental Decline
According to the JAMA the use of G.Biloba as an herbal supplement has no significant effect upon mental decline in a large study. Save your money and go for a walk. But not to Walgreen's.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/12/30/ginkgo-biloba-doesnt-stop-cognitive-decline/10472.html?utm_source=Psych+Central+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5f80812508-Weekly_Newsletter_3811_10_2009&utm_medium=email
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/12/30/ginkgo-biloba-doesnt-stop-cognitive-decline/10472.html?utm_source=Psych+Central+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5f80812508-Weekly_Newsletter_3811_10_2009&utm_medium=email
Friday, December 18, 2009
Can Constipation be a factor in Parkinson's?
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/12/constipation-sign-early-parkinsons-disease.html
In a study which used intake data to filter for common indicators preceding onset of parkinson's a neurological disorder. Of course a diet which alleviates constipation would be higher in vitamins and fiber which would aid in bowel function and so it may be many issues besides a symptom. Eat your vegetables whole grains and legumes.
try to avoid stress and your digestion may be improved i.e. no constipation. Happy trails.
In a study which used intake data to filter for common indicators preceding onset of parkinson's a neurological disorder. Of course a diet which alleviates constipation would be higher in vitamins and fiber which would aid in bowel function and so it may be many issues besides a symptom. Eat your vegetables whole grains and legumes.
try to avoid stress and your digestion may be improved i.e. no constipation. Happy trails.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Another Link To Obesity and HFCS
The London Times reports today that high fructose corn syrup is a factor in obesity and diabetes. The subjects consuming the same kcal of glucose did not experience the same metabolic storage patterns indicating the addition of HFCS in the amounts in the Standard American Diet(SAD) causes changes in the way the body stores and processes carbohydrates leading to metabolic syndrome and eventually to type 2 diabetes.The use of HFCS in almost every processed food makes this finding a rebuttal to industry studies which say there is no difference between glucose and HFCS in obesity provocation.The NIH says industry is wrong. How long until we treat this as a threat to our national security?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6954603.ece
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2673878/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6954603.ece
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2673878/
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Megavitamin Therapy Podcast 12-15-09
http://yourownhealthandfitness.org/
I know Ms L spoke about ULs for vitamins. Also in the syllabus there was a mention of using food and nutrition for alleviating illnesses and chronic disorders. Here is one opinion on the subject Dr Abram Hoffer explored as early as the mid-fifties as a psychiatrist in Canada. He had good outcomes using nutrition to treat schizophrenia and in some cases curing it. What will we do for a population that is disenfranchised from the medical system due to cost or "pre-existing" conditions? Food and nutrition(FN) may be the panacea for the poor. Industrial agriculture brings us industrial levels of pesticide and herbicide residues and indenture the ability to grow food to the petrochemical/seed conglomerates who decide what strains are available for our staples. I don't like this and it bodes poorly for the possible reaching the goals for Healthy People 2010.
I know Ms L spoke about ULs for vitamins. Also in the syllabus there was a mention of using food and nutrition for alleviating illnesses and chronic disorders. Here is one opinion on the subject Dr Abram Hoffer explored as early as the mid-fifties as a psychiatrist in Canada. He had good outcomes using nutrition to treat schizophrenia and in some cases curing it. What will we do for a population that is disenfranchised from the medical system due to cost or "pre-existing" conditions? Food and nutrition(FN) may be the panacea for the poor. Industrial agriculture brings us industrial levels of pesticide and herbicide residues and indenture the ability to grow food to the petrochemical/seed conglomerates who decide what strains are available for our staples. I don't like this and it bodes poorly for the possible reaching the goals for Healthy People 2010.
Love Your Heart Podcast
A show on Your Own Health and Fitness.org talking aout mostly women's heart health. The WHI Women's Health Inventory is discussed relative to outcomes. Outcomes based on assumptions not clearly proven and Laina Berman disputes some hard held practices of the AMA. Free Podcast until 12- 14-09 after that as a pay per download.
http://yourownhealthandfitness.org/
Listen and learn the other side of this study.
http://yourownhealthandfitness.org/
Listen and learn the other side of this study.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Its SAD Time Again
How to Spot Seasonal Affective Disorder—The Wintertime Blues
December 2009
There are classic signs like weight gain, sleepiness and social withdrawal. Then there are the more subtle symptoms, such as anxiety, diminished sex drive and difficulty concentrating. Seasonal Affective Disorder, like other forms of depression, is a mixed bag of mental and emotional challenges.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is similar to many other natural life patterns because of its cyclical nature. Like the circadian rhythms that regulate sleep each night, SAD symptoms most often make their appearance as the hours of daylight slowly diminish heading into the dark winter months. However, there is also a form of SAD that occurs during the summer months (two forms also known as “winter depression” and “summer depression”).
With the daylight savings switch already made, that time of year is upon us. As the days grow shorter and shorter, now is the time to monitor any changes in your mood, daily routine and overall emotional well-being. Occasional symptoms of minor depression can pop up throughout the year. But when you have a combination of symptoms that linger for weeks, it’s time to consider speaking with a doctor or healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Symptoms Associated with winter Seasonal Affective Disorder:
•Depression
•Hopelessness
•Anxiety
•Loss of energy
•Social withdrawal
•Oversleeping
•Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
•Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
•Weight gain
•Difficulty concentrating and processing information
Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder has a few different symptoms, including anxiety, trouble sleeping (insomnia), irritability, agitation, weight loss, poor appetite, and increased sex drive.
According to Mayo Clinic, it's normal to have bad days, days where you just feel down in the dumps. “But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't seem to get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor,” states the Mayo Clinic website. “This is particularly important if you notice that your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or find yourself turning to alcohol [or drugs] for comfort or relaxation.”
What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Unfortunately, the specific cause of seasonal affective disorder is still not known. However, researchers and scientists continue to examine potential links between SAD and common indicators like age, genetics, and family history. A person’s natural chemical makeup might also play a role in developing the condition.
Like most mental health disorders, seasonal affective disorder affects women more than men. While women are statistically more likely to suffer from SAD, studies show men experience more severe symptoms. Further, similar to vitamin D deficiency, SAD appears to be more common for people who live farther from the equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during the shorter winter days. The following list is taken directly from the Mayo Clinic website.
A few specific factors that may come into play include:
•Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may disrupt your body's internal clock, which lets you know when you should sleep or be awake. This disruption of your circadian rhythm may lead to feelings of depression.
•Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the natural hormone melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. Talk to your doctor to see whether taking melatonin supplements is a good option.
•Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in seasonal affective disorder. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin, perhaps leading to depression.
Source: www.mayoclinic.com
I was hoping it would not happen this year. I am curious about the increase in sex drive. Perhaps like carbohydrate cravings it is a hard-wired(pun intended) attempt to release endorphins. Either way I am getting cabin fever and need excercise. By now.
December 2009
There are classic signs like weight gain, sleepiness and social withdrawal. Then there are the more subtle symptoms, such as anxiety, diminished sex drive and difficulty concentrating. Seasonal Affective Disorder, like other forms of depression, is a mixed bag of mental and emotional challenges.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is similar to many other natural life patterns because of its cyclical nature. Like the circadian rhythms that regulate sleep each night, SAD symptoms most often make their appearance as the hours of daylight slowly diminish heading into the dark winter months. However, there is also a form of SAD that occurs during the summer months (two forms also known as “winter depression” and “summer depression”).
With the daylight savings switch already made, that time of year is upon us. As the days grow shorter and shorter, now is the time to monitor any changes in your mood, daily routine and overall emotional well-being. Occasional symptoms of minor depression can pop up throughout the year. But when you have a combination of symptoms that linger for weeks, it’s time to consider speaking with a doctor or healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Symptoms Associated with winter Seasonal Affective Disorder:
•Depression
•Hopelessness
•Anxiety
•Loss of energy
•Social withdrawal
•Oversleeping
•Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
•Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
•Weight gain
•Difficulty concentrating and processing information
Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder has a few different symptoms, including anxiety, trouble sleeping (insomnia), irritability, agitation, weight loss, poor appetite, and increased sex drive.
According to Mayo Clinic, it's normal to have bad days, days where you just feel down in the dumps. “But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't seem to get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor,” states the Mayo Clinic website. “This is particularly important if you notice that your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or find yourself turning to alcohol [or drugs] for comfort or relaxation.”
What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Unfortunately, the specific cause of seasonal affective disorder is still not known. However, researchers and scientists continue to examine potential links between SAD and common indicators like age, genetics, and family history. A person’s natural chemical makeup might also play a role in developing the condition.
Like most mental health disorders, seasonal affective disorder affects women more than men. While women are statistically more likely to suffer from SAD, studies show men experience more severe symptoms. Further, similar to vitamin D deficiency, SAD appears to be more common for people who live farther from the equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during the shorter winter days. The following list is taken directly from the Mayo Clinic website.
A few specific factors that may come into play include:
•Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may disrupt your body's internal clock, which lets you know when you should sleep or be awake. This disruption of your circadian rhythm may lead to feelings of depression.
•Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the natural hormone melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. Talk to your doctor to see whether taking melatonin supplements is a good option.
•Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in seasonal affective disorder. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin, perhaps leading to depression.
Source: www.mayoclinic.com
I was hoping it would not happen this year. I am curious about the increase in sex drive. Perhaps like carbohydrate cravings it is a hard-wired(pun intended) attempt to release endorphins. Either way I am getting cabin fever and need excercise. By now.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Longevity Diet
This is a book recommended by my nutrition professor written by the widow of the great gerontologist Roy Walford. The gist of the longevity diet is this; All animals so far tested if raised on a CR (calorie restricted) diet seem to have a lower probability of succumbing to the normal diseases and metabolic failures of organisms on a normal non-CR diet. This has yet to be proven in humans because the study(now being conducted by the Calorie Restriction Society)will take over 100 years to complete. If trends and comparisons can be made interspecies-wise humans on a CR diet could live to be 150-60 years before passing. Not only that but the muscles organs and tissues will sustain a more youthful vitality including fertility well beyond normal limits.
The catch, you must relearn your relationship with food. Eat less than you would normally metabolize and train your cells to get by with less energy but a rich nutrient plant based diet that limits total caloric intake while maintaining the minimum amounts of fats and carbohydrates while sustaining a slightly higher amino acid consumption mainly by eating whole foods.
I have done retreats where the diet is limited to raw whole foods and little spices. It helps to bring about a calmer more peaceful less reactive state of being. I think this was mentioned as a benefit of the discipline. Longevity without the needed vitality and energy is not a blessing as Medicine has "extended" the lifespan by artficially extending the life of organs with anti-inflammatory drugs. These effects can come from the CR diet alone.
Of course stress can shorten our lives by actually shortening the telomers in our genes and too much caloric restriction can be dangerous.Rigorous medical monitoring of blood levels and cardio-fitness in the initial 2-3 years is critical.
The Longevity Diet:Discover Calorie Restriction---The only proven way to slow the aging process and maintain Peak Vitality Brian M. Delaney and Lisa Walford authors.Marlowe & Company 2004
The catch, you must relearn your relationship with food. Eat less than you would normally metabolize and train your cells to get by with less energy but a rich nutrient plant based diet that limits total caloric intake while maintaining the minimum amounts of fats and carbohydrates while sustaining a slightly higher amino acid consumption mainly by eating whole foods.
I have done retreats where the diet is limited to raw whole foods and little spices. It helps to bring about a calmer more peaceful less reactive state of being. I think this was mentioned as a benefit of the discipline. Longevity without the needed vitality and energy is not a blessing as Medicine has "extended" the lifespan by artficially extending the life of organs with anti-inflammatory drugs. These effects can come from the CR diet alone.
Of course stress can shorten our lives by actually shortening the telomers in our genes and too much caloric restriction can be dangerous.Rigorous medical monitoring of blood levels and cardio-fitness in the initial 2-3 years is critical.
The Longevity Diet:Discover Calorie Restriction---The only proven way to slow the aging process and maintain Peak Vitality Brian M. Delaney and Lisa Walford authors.Marlowe & Company 2004
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Omega-3 Levels and Obesity
Omega-3 Linked to Lower Body Weight
December 2009
Study findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that overweight and obese people have blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids almost one percent lower than people with a healthy weight.
“Our findings suggest that omega-3 PUFAs may play an important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor Monohar Garg of the University of Newcastle and president-elect of the Nutrition Society of Australia.
Previous studies have implicated omega-3 in protective benefits against obesity, and the recent study adds to this small but growing body of evidence. A considerable number of studies already support the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for cardiovascular health and cognitive health. Other areas of potential for the fatty acids include mood and behavior, eye health, cancer risk reduction and improved infant development.
The researchers recruited 124 people of varying weights: 21 were classified as having a healthy weight according to their body mass index (BMI), 40 were classified as overweight and 63 were obese. The researchers note that people who consumed omega-3 supplements were excluded from their study.
Blood samples were taken after the subjects fasted for at least 10 hours. Professor Garg and his co-workers recorded an inverse relationship between total omega-3 blood levels, as well as blood levels of DHA and EPA, with BMI, the subjects’ waist sizes and their hip circumference.
Indeed, obese people had omega-3 levels of 4.53 percent, compared to 5.25 percent in their healthy-weight peers. When the researchers organized the participants according to their omega-3 levels, and not by their weight, they again observed that increased omega-3 levels were associated with a healthier BMI, a smaller waist and a lower hip size.
“[Other] studies, along with our observations, suggest that omega-3 PUFA supplementation may play an important role in preventing weight gain and improving weight loss when omega-3 PUFA are supplemented concomitantly with a structured weight-loss program,” wrote the researchers.
British Journal of Nutrition 102(9):1370-1374, 2009
December 2009
Study findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that overweight and obese people have blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids almost one percent lower than people with a healthy weight.
“Our findings suggest that omega-3 PUFAs may play an important role in weight status and abdominal adiposity,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor Monohar Garg of the University of Newcastle and president-elect of the Nutrition Society of Australia.
Previous studies have implicated omega-3 in protective benefits against obesity, and the recent study adds to this small but growing body of evidence. A considerable number of studies already support the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for cardiovascular health and cognitive health. Other areas of potential for the fatty acids include mood and behavior, eye health, cancer risk reduction and improved infant development.
The researchers recruited 124 people of varying weights: 21 were classified as having a healthy weight according to their body mass index (BMI), 40 were classified as overweight and 63 were obese. The researchers note that people who consumed omega-3 supplements were excluded from their study.
Blood samples were taken after the subjects fasted for at least 10 hours. Professor Garg and his co-workers recorded an inverse relationship between total omega-3 blood levels, as well as blood levels of DHA and EPA, with BMI, the subjects’ waist sizes and their hip circumference.
Indeed, obese people had omega-3 levels of 4.53 percent, compared to 5.25 percent in their healthy-weight peers. When the researchers organized the participants according to their omega-3 levels, and not by their weight, they again observed that increased omega-3 levels were associated with a healthier BMI, a smaller waist and a lower hip size.
“[Other] studies, along with our observations, suggest that omega-3 PUFA supplementation may play an important role in preventing weight gain and improving weight loss when omega-3 PUFA are supplemented concomitantly with a structured weight-loss program,” wrote the researchers.
British Journal of Nutrition 102(9):1370-1374, 2009
Folate and Iron Reduce Infant Mortality
Infant Survival Sees Increase with Mothers Who Took Folic Acid, Iron
December 2009
Taking folic acid and iron supplements during pregnancy may reduce infant mortality up to age 7, suggests research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In fact, researchers report as much as a 31% reduction in infant mortality.
Furthermore, the supplements reduced the prevalence of low birth weight by 16% and the prevalence of maternal anemia during pregnancy and after the birth period by 50%.
"To our knowledge this is the first time the long-term effects of maternal iron-folic acid supplementation on childhood survival have been examined," said lead researcher P. Christian.
"A reduction in mortality resulting from an intervention, such as iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, provides a new and previously unreported evidence of benefit to offspring during childhood," added Christian.
Almost 5,000 pregnant women in rural Nepal were recruited to take part in the randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Women were divided into five groups. One group received folic acid only; the second group received folic acid, plus iron; the third received folic acid, plus iron, plus zinc; the fourth received multiple micronutrients; and the final group received vitamin A and acted as the control group.
Of the 4,130 babies born alive, 209 died in the first three months and eight were lost to follow-up. Of the 3,913 remaining, the researchers report that 150 died between the ages of three months and seven years, while 152 were lost to follow-up.
Children of mothers receiving the folic acid, plus iron supplements had the lowest mortality rate of 10.3 per 1,000 child-years from birth to age seven years, compared to 13.4, 12.0, 14.0 and 15.2 for the folic acid, folic acid, plus iron, plus zinc; multiple micronutrients and control groups, respectively.
"In a setting where maternal iron deficiency and anemia are common, we found a 31% reduction in childhood mortality due to maternal antenatal and postnatal supplementation with iron-folic acid compared to a control," Christian said.
The researchers concluded that such results provide additional motivation to increase global programs for antenatal iron and folic acid supplementation.
American Journal of Epidemiology 170(9):1127-1136, 2009
December 2009
Taking folic acid and iron supplements during pregnancy may reduce infant mortality up to age 7, suggests research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In fact, researchers report as much as a 31% reduction in infant mortality.
Furthermore, the supplements reduced the prevalence of low birth weight by 16% and the prevalence of maternal anemia during pregnancy and after the birth period by 50%.
"To our knowledge this is the first time the long-term effects of maternal iron-folic acid supplementation on childhood survival have been examined," said lead researcher P. Christian.
"A reduction in mortality resulting from an intervention, such as iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, provides a new and previously unreported evidence of benefit to offspring during childhood," added Christian.
Almost 5,000 pregnant women in rural Nepal were recruited to take part in the randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Women were divided into five groups. One group received folic acid only; the second group received folic acid, plus iron; the third received folic acid, plus iron, plus zinc; the fourth received multiple micronutrients; and the final group received vitamin A and acted as the control group.
Of the 4,130 babies born alive, 209 died in the first three months and eight were lost to follow-up. Of the 3,913 remaining, the researchers report that 150 died between the ages of three months and seven years, while 152 were lost to follow-up.
Children of mothers receiving the folic acid, plus iron supplements had the lowest mortality rate of 10.3 per 1,000 child-years from birth to age seven years, compared to 13.4, 12.0, 14.0 and 15.2 for the folic acid, folic acid, plus iron, plus zinc; multiple micronutrients and control groups, respectively.
"In a setting where maternal iron deficiency and anemia are common, we found a 31% reduction in childhood mortality due to maternal antenatal and postnatal supplementation with iron-folic acid compared to a control," Christian said.
The researchers concluded that such results provide additional motivation to increase global programs for antenatal iron and folic acid supplementation.
American Journal of Epidemiology 170(9):1127-1136, 2009
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