Mom’s diet shapes child’s cardiac health in womb | Hyderabad News

HYDERABAD: In the wake of increase in cases of sudden cardiac arrests, especially among youngsters, a recent study has pointed out that there is a strong link between nutrition of the pregnant mother and the cardiac health of the child.
The study titled ‘The burgeoning cardiovascular disease epidemic in Indians – perspectives on contextual factors and potential solutions’ published in the Lancet journal in June said that Indians had a relatively high risk of cardiovascular disease, an earlier age of onset, higher case fatality and higher premature deaths.

The findings from the cohort study demonstrates the impact of maternal nutritional status on CVD risk in the offspring. On analysis of maternal nutrition and its effects on birth size, it was observed that higher fat intake (at 18 weeks of gestation) and food rich in micronutrients (vegetables, fruits) showed strong associations, while energy and protein intake were not associated with CVD risk, the report said.
It further said that along with the mother’s diet, birth size was also associated with higher total cholesterol and triglyceride levels at 18 as well as 28 weeks of gestation and with higher plasma glucose levels at 28 weeks.
A one standard deviation increase in either maternal fasting glucose, total cholesterol or triglycerides was found to be associated with a significant increase in birth weight. Micronutrients in the mother significantly influenced child CVD risk.
“A combination of high folate and low vitamin B12 concentrations in the mother was associated with the most cases of insulin resistance.”Further, given that vitamin B12 and folate are integral to homocysteine metabolism, it was unsurprising that maternal total homocysteine showed a significant and inverse association with birth weight,” the report said.
This finding has enormous public health relevance because adding vitamin B12 to the existing universal folate supplementation programme for pregnant women in the country is feasible, but this finding requires further corroboration through a trial, it said.
Meanwhile, a majority of the sudden cardiac arrests being reported off late in the country are among the below 40 age category.
“As per estimates, two out of three cardiac deaths being reported in India are premature deaths, beginning at 15 years. Along with the prenatal and genetic disposition, the fact that low levels of physical activity and low consumption of fruits and vegetables further aggravate the problem. Now, we see many of the adolescents too having high blood pressure which quickly deteriorates heart health,” said Dr Kiran Madhala, convenor of Indian Medical Association‘s scientific committee.