HEALTH MANAGEMENT. Lose a baby increases risk of early death for parents, mothers in particular

Losing a child during his/her first 12 months of life can considerably raise the parents' risk of dying early, researchers from the University of York, England and Stirling University, Scotland reported in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
Dr Mairi Harper and team examined 5% of UK death registrations of parents who had lost a child aged 1 year or more, as well as parents who had lost a child aged less than 12 months. They were randomly selected from data from 1971 to 2006. Stillborn babies were included in the study
The data obtained from Scotland found that parents who lost a child under 12 months of age ran twice the risk of dying early or becoming widowed compared to parents who lost no children.
The impact of child bereavement was found to be greater on mothers, although fathers had a higher risk of early death too, the authors wrote.
In England and Wales, mothers who lost a child run four times the risk of dying within 15 years of the child's death, compared to other mothers. Even 25 years after the loss of a child, the risk of early death was 1.5 higher.
Dr. Harper said that "dying of a broken heart" does not only apply to the loss of a spouse or partner, it also happens to people who lose a young child.
The investigators had not had enough data to determine what impact, if any, suicides had on the figures. They believe bereavement may have a biological effect on the parents, such as undermining their immune system.
Dr. Harper said:

"Bereaved parents may also be more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies, such as alcohol misuse."

Harper explained that alcohol misuse may raise the risk of developing alcohol-related illnesses, or accidental injuries.
The authors added that perhaps some parents whose child is stillborn or dies early may themselves have poor health.
Dr. Harper said:

"It is imperative that cause of death be further investigated in order to establish the factors leading to increased mortality in bereaved parents."

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HEALTH MANAGEMENT. Mother's diet influences baby's allergies

A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified in new research published in this month's the journal of Physiology.
The research found that if a mother's diet contains a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as those found in fish, walnut oil or flaxseed the baby's well develops differently. The PUFAs are thought to improve how well immune cells respond to bacteria and foreign substances, making the baby less likely to suffer from allergies.
Until now, several clinical trials have shown that fish and walnut oil supplementation in pregnant women reduces the risk of allergy in their children, but the mechanism what unknown.
"There is intense research interest in maternally diet during pregnancy." "In the western diet, the group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that we have shown to help good function are actually disappearing our dietary intake of fish and oils is being replaced by corn nut oils which contain a different kind of fatty acid". Said Dr Gaëlle Boudry, of the INRA research institute in Rennes, France.
"Our study identifies that a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids known as n-3PUFAs causes a change in how a baby's well develops, which in turn might change how the good immune system develops." "These changes are likely to reduce the risk of developing allergies in later life."
The team found that supplementing a mother's diet with n-3PUFA caused the new-born's well to become more permeable. More permeable well enables bacteria and new substances to pass through the lining of the well into the bloodstream more easily A. These new substances then trigger the baby's immune response and the production of antibodies.
"The end result is that the baby's immune system may develop and mature faster leading to better immune function and less likelihood of suffering allergies," added Dr Boudry.
This research adds to previous studies which have shown that at intake during pregnancy increases of n-3 PUFAs gestational length and maturation of the central nervous system of a baby and that their performance on mental tasks also seemed to be improved in childhood.
"Other studies have found that a diet containing fish or walnut oil during pregnancy may make your baby smarter our research adds to this, suggesting such supplements so accelerate the development of a healthy immune system to ward off food allergies."
In terms of next steps, the team's findings were based on piglets research will continue to see if they translate to humans. The porcine intestine is an excellent model of the human good however, so they are hopeful that the findings can be extrapolated. The team also plans to investigate whether the apparent good function-boosting effects of n-3PUFA that they have identified in new-borns extends into later life.

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