In its December issue Heart has carried a study on maternal malnutrition in the first trimester of pregnancy and how it causes coronary heart diseases in the newborn. Dr. Tessa .J. Rosé boom of the university of Amsterdam and her team have studied the occurrence of coronary heart diseases in children and correlated the findings to maternal malnutrition in the three trimesters of pregnancy. They opined that maternal malnutrition during the first three months of pregnancy (the first trimester) causes coronary heart diseases in the new born.

The researchers studied 700 odd cases and compared maternal malnutrition in the first, second and third trimesters and also studied mothers who were not malnourished. The findings established that there was more than a doubling in the prevalence rate for coronary heart diseases in the newborn if mothers were malnourished in the first trimester when compared to second and third trimesters. And these findings are independent of birth weight the scientists say.

The researchers conclude that the incidence of coronary heart diseases in newborn babies can be controlled if the maternal nutrition during pregnancy is optimized. Taking into consideration that women modify their lifestyles for the babies in many ways than one, taking care to ensure that they are adequately nourished for the well being of the kids is not something very difficult. Are the expectant mothers listening?