A study conducted by U.S. researchers revealed that low levels of nutrient Choline during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of newborns having brain or spinal-cord defects after birth.
The researchers looked into the two types of birth defects – spina bifida and anencephaly. The latter is a condition where the brain and skull do not develop which is fatal while the former is a malformation in the spinal-cord which could cause a lifelong disability due to paralysis.
The team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine reviewed the blood samples provided by 80 women during pregnancy and eventually gave birth to newborns with birth defects. They also acquired samples from more than 400 women who gave birth to babies without birth defects.
One of the major differences discovered by the team was the levels of choline from both groups. Usually, this nutrient can be acquired from soy, egg yolks, meats and wheat germ.
Based on their conclusion, women with low levels of choline during pregnancy are more than twice likely to have a child with birth defects. Thus doctors always advice pregnant women to eat foods rich with this nutrient.
