Type 1 less likely in kids whose moms favored these foods, study found

FRIDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Children born to mothers who ate plenty of vegetables during pregnancy are less likely to have type 1 diabetes, Swedish researchers say. "This is the first study to show a link between vegetable intake during pregnancy and the risk of the child subsequently developing type 1 diabetes, but more studies of various kinds will be needed before we can say anything definitive," study author Hilde Brekke, a clinical nutritionist at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, said in a news release from the university. Brekke and colleagues studied 6,000 5-year-olds and found that 3 percent either had fully developed type 1 diabetes or had elevated levels of antibodies that indicate a risk of developing the disease. The risk was twice as high in children whose mothers rarely ate vegetables during pregnancy, and lowest among children whose mothers ate vegetables every day of their pregnancy. The study was recently published online in the journal Pediatric Diabetes. "We cannot say with certainty on the basis of this study that it's the vegetables themselves that have this protective effect, but other factors related to vegetable intake, such as the mother's standard of education, do not seem to explain the link," Brekke said. "Nor can this protection be explained by other measured dietary factors or other known risk factors." While it's not known what actually causes type 1 diabetes, factors believed to play a role include immunological mechanisms, environmental toxins and genetic variations. Type 1 diabetes occurs throughout the world but is most common in Finland and Sweden. More information The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International has more about type 1 diabetes. SOURCE: University of Gothenburg, news release, Oct. 27, 2009

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When you're pregnant, you're eating for two. Pay special attention to folate, a B vitamin. In the early weeks it can prevent neural tube defects, and later on it works with iron to form red blood cells. Good sources include fortified grain products, orange juice, beans, and vegetables. Get enough iron, especially in the second and third trimesters, to avoid anemia. Good sources include eggs, meat, beans, whole and fortified grains, and dark green vegetables. Also, load up on calcium, especially in the third trimester, when the baby’s bones start to harden. Dairy products, dark green vegetables, tofu, beans, nuts, and fortified orange juice are all good sources. Finally, take a prenatal vitamin supplement, but don’t rely on it to replace good nutrition. Your body absorbs nutrients more easily from food than vitamins. Other precautions: • Don't drink during pregnancy because it may cause miscarriage or permanent brain injury, including retardation, in your child. • Cut out foods with a high risk of food poisoning: sushi, undercooked meats, eggs, seafood, and soft cheeses (unless they’re made with pasteurized milk). • To avoid taking in high amounts of mercury, pay attention to what kind of fish you’re eating. Don't eat large, long-lived species, especially shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel. If you like tuna, choose chunk light (instead of albacore), and limit yourself to two 6-ounce cans per week (and only one can if you eat other types of fish that week). Your best bets are salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and other short-lived species. • Cut back on caffeine, especially in the first trimester, when miscarriage risk is highest. • Go easy on junk food like chips, cookies, and soda, and load up on healthy snacks like fruit, trail mix, crackers, peanut butter, and baby carrots. (In general, go for food with complex carbs and protein to keep you going, rather than empty calories. And remember, you only need an extra 300 calories a day during pregnancy. Calculate your calorie needs. • Finally, stay hydrated. Getting enough water will help your overworked kidneys flush out the extra toxins from your system and may actually keep swelling down.

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