During pregnancy, mothers-to-be generally try to eat better and take better care of themselves in the hopes of improving the health of their infants. Pregnant moms may also try avoiding certain chemical exposures like cigarette smoke and even harsh cleaning products. This can be a tricky task, however. One recent study has found that flame retardant exposure—a difficult exposure to avoid—is linked to lower birth weight in babies.

The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that for every tenfold increase in PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) levels in the mother’s blood, there was a 4.1 ounce drop in the baby’s birth weight. Lead researcher Kim Harley, from the University of California, Berkley’s School of Public Health, stated, “What we saw was a shift toward lighter babies among women with higher PBDE exposure rather than a dramatic increase in the number of low birth weight babies.” For babies already at risk for low birth weight for other reasons, 4.1 ounces would make a big difference.

The PBDEs tested for in the study were actually phased out of use in 2004, but because they are found in many household items, their persistence is still widespread. These chemicals leach from furniture, upholstery, carpet, electronics and more (even baby products and children’s pajamas!), and are stored in fat cells. Flame retardants have been linked to reduced fertility and thyroid dysfunction in women.

How do we get out of this toxic soup? Well, we can’t. But the researchers do recommend wet mopping when dusting since flame retardants are concentrated in dust, and frequent hand washing to avoid ingesting these chemicals.

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Fish high in omega-3 oils provide a rich source of the fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is a physiologically-essential nutrient in the brain and retina where it is found in high concentrations. For this reason fish oil rich in DHA is particularly beneficial for the eyes and brain. EPA is especially helpful for reducing inflammation. Together, EPA and DHA have been found to be helpful in a host of health conditions.

Recently, a couple studies have been published highlighting the visual benefits of fish oil. In one study involving 38,022 women, regular consumption of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish was associated with lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, which is a condition in older people that gradually destroys central sharp vision. Women who regularly consumed fish had a 42 percent lower risk.

The second study evaluated the way that omega-3 fatty acids work. The study found an effect that promotes healthy blood vessel growth while inhibiting abnormal blood vessel growth. Both retinopathy and macular degeneration involve abnormal blood vessel growth. Researchers isolated the compound which exhibited this effect—a metabolite of the omega-3 DHA.

Currently, an ongoing study through the National Eye Institute is underway looking at the benefits of fish oil supplements in people with age-related macular degeneration, and another study in Sweden is investigating the effects of omega-3 supplementation in premature infants who are deficient in omega-3 to determine if the supplement reduces the development of retinopathy. If so, this will lead to more studies.

The science behind EPA and DHA from fish oil span a wide range of health conditions, which highlights the importance of these oils for the body’s optimal function.

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A particular parasite, called Cryptosporidium, is showing up in pools, lakes and fountains, causing a diarrheal disease known as cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto” for short. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 134 disease outbreaks associated with recreational water in 2007 to 2008, when the most recent data is available. That is a 72 percent increase over the previous two-year period. Of all 105 confirmed disease outbreaks in pools and fountains, Cryptosporidium was responsible for 57 percent of them, causing over 12,000 illnesses.

The parasite can cause diarrhea in all age groups, but immune-compromised individuals, the very young, and very old are particularly susceptible to more serious illness upon infection. Symptoms of crypto include abdominal cramping, frequent watery diarrhea, nausea, feeling ill, and even malnutrition and weight loss in severe cases. In most people, however, a crypto infection is not dangerous, but it’s uncomfortable.

Cryptosporidiosis spreads by contact with contaminated water, and as the bacterium is tolerant of chlorine, it may not be possible to avoid contact. While it is not common for a pool to be contaminated with this parasite, Cryptosporidium contamination is increasing. Proper sanitation and hygiene are important for prevention of this illness. People, and especially infants, with diarrhea should not swim in pools until their diarrhea subsides. Infants should wear protective diapers when swimming. Try not to swallow water and be sure to wash hands after swimming to stay on the safe side.

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Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

Weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!

The development of allergies in infants is influenced by different factors. A too-clean environment is one factor. Lack of breastfeeding is another factor. Diet, both of the infant and the mother, is yet another factor. In a recent study, mothers’ diets during pregnancy were evaluated for a link to the development of allergies in infants.

Researchers found that if the mother’s diet contained omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like those found in fish, walnuts and flaxseed, the babys’ guts developed differently. The PUFAs help to improve how gut immune cells respond to gut bacteria and other foreign substances in the gut. This highlights the complementary action of omega-3s with gut bacteria. The result? A reduction in the risk of allergy development in children.

Studies have shown that fish oil and walnut oil supplementation during pregnancy help reduce allergy risk in their children, and now this new study shows why. “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,” stated Dr. Gaelle Boudry one of the study’s researchers.

It is well known that omega-3 fish oil—particularly DHA—is important for brain development of the fetus during pregnancy. This new study adds to the understanding of the benefits of omega-3s. This week, if you or someone you know is pregnant, be sure you’re getting enough omega-3s. A concentrated, purified fish oil supplement is a great way to get your omega-3s, just be sure to clear it with your doctor.

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Renew You Challenge

Let’s start this week off right!

Weekly challenge (I mean opportunity!) to help set you off on the right foot and in the right direction for bringing health to your week. You could even add it to your calendar. Join us!

The risk of celiac disease might be lessened in infants who are breast fed, according to a recent study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Researchers investigated the Bacteroides gut bacteria and genetic predisposition for celiac in breast-fed versus formula-fed infants with at least one celiac parent. Previous studies found breastfeeding to be protective against the development of celiac disease, so researchers wanted to take the studies further.

They found that breastfeeding increased amounts of the bacteria Bacteroides uniformis, a species found to be higher in those infants at a lower genetic risk for celiac. The study involved 75 full term infants, and if confirmed in further studies, lead researcher Yolanda Sanz stated, “We will be able to recommend breastfeeding, and propose dietary intervention trials to modulate the intestinal microbiota in subjects at risk of developing celiac disease, in order to try to prevent its development.”

This week, if you know anyone with celiac or gluten sensitivity who is pregnant or trying to be, pass this info on. If they aren’t sure about breastfeeding, this study might change their mind.

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Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These fatty acids have been associated with heart health, joint health, brain health, gut health… the list goes on and on. The two often go hand in hand, and for most conditions, researchers don’t know the perfect ratio of EPA to DHA. But for infant health, DHA is the fatty acid that shines.

DHA is most concentrated in the brain and the retina, which is why it’s been found to be helpful in these areas of the body. In infants, DHA has been found to help improve brain development when pregnant mothers get high amounts, and when infants receive it from breast milk or supplemented formula.

Two new studies add to the science behind DHA for new mothers. One study in preterm infants found that high doses of DHA in baby formula or breast milk resulted in greater growth rate of the head, which was associated with increased mental development—both important factors when considering pre-term infants who are at a developmental disadvantage.

The second study found that pregnant women who took fish oil high in DHA had fewer symptoms common to postpartum depression. Considering 25 percent of new mothers experience postpartum depression, this is good news. More studies will be done to determine just how and why DHA works in this way, but the results are promising. Fish oil supplements are a great source of DHA, but look for a formula that has IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) certification to ensure that you’re getting the purest fish oil.

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For over 60 years now, it has been recommended that baby’s first food be white rice cereal mixed with either breast milk or regular milk. Rice is known for being well-tolerated by babies’ sensitive digestive tracts due to its low allergen status.  Recommending white rice as baby’s first food is coming under scrutiny, however, and I agree.

White rice is a highly refined product. In processing, it is stripped of fiber, vitamins and other beneficial nutrients.  What’s left is little more than a simple carbohydrate—the very food that leads to the development of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The risk of these diseases seems far off when we are talking about infants, but experts believe that starting off a baby’s diet with white rice cereal may be setting the stage for unhealthy eating habits to come.

So this week’s challenge is to substitute brown rice cereal for white rice cereal in the diet of a baby you know. This simple substitution could be the beginning of better dietary choices later in life.

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After the Environmental Protection Agency put out a study on the pesticide aldicarb (brand name Temik) that found it posed a safety risk to infants and young children, the company producing it, Bayer, decided to phase it out. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that it will take eight years before the chemical is no longer used on crops like cotton, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and sugar beets. Even worse, this chemical has been in use since 1970. So what’s eight more years, right? Eight more years too many!

The chemical safety standards are about as backwards as they get. Instead of requiring strict safety testing before chemicals like this are introduced, it takes 40 years of spraying it on our crops before it is decided that’s not such a good idea. And that means exposure to millions of infants and young children over the past four decades.

Ridiculous!

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Since we are moving into winter, it would be wise for everyone to be mindful of their vitamin D status. We now know that vitamin D affects close to 2,000 genes that have to do with immunity and inflammation. The best vitamin D test to have done is the blood 25 (OH) vitamin D level. A level less than 30 ng/mL is inadequate. Though the Lab Corp normal range is 32 – 100 ng/mL, an optimum level would be 50 – 70 ng/mL. Generally, a prescription is needed for the test, but ZRT Lab and Life Extension offer the test directly without prescription. Out of pocket cost for the test at Lab Corp (with prescription) is $85, and Life Extension and ZRT tests cost a little over $60. With a prescription, insurance may cover some portion of the cost.

The latest data from around the U.S. suggests that more than 90 percent of dark-skinned people (African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians) have vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL. What’s more, over 75 percent of the Caucasian population also have levels less than 30 ng/mL. Further, this rate of low vitamin D has doubled in the U.S. in the last ten years.1 The primary reasons seem to be obesity (vitamin D stored in fat is not available), sun-phobia and excess use of sunscreen (this is because we have been told by medical authorities to avoid sun exposure and/or use plenty of sunscreen), and air pollution (which blocks UVB light necessary for the conversion of vitamin D).

There are three things you can do to obtain enough vitamin D:

Correct amount of sun exposure at the right time of day. UVB is available between 10 am and 3 pm (best time is 12 pm to 2 pm). Fair-skinned people may get enough UVB by exposing 25 to 50 percent of their body for 10 to 15 minutes. Darker-skinned people may need one or more hours. If your skin becomes pink (minimal erythema dose, MED) then cut your time by 50 to 75 percent. However, if you live north of Atlanta from November through March, you will not receive enough UVB due to the tilt of the earth away from the sun. Also, if you are over age 70, you have 70 percent less production of vitamin D from sun exposure. Seniors will still benefit from sun exposure but will also need to supplement with vitamin D. In addition, cloud cover can reduce vitamin D synthesis by 50 to 75 percent. On cloudy days, you can get sunburned with UVA rays, and be at risk for cancer and wrinkles, yet not receive the beneficial UVB.2

Sun lamp. High-quality sun lamps replicate natural sunshine. UVA (at 94 to 97.5 percent) and UVB (at 2.5 to 6 percent) exposure times will be basically the same as are found on an ideal day of sun exposure. If you prefer a tanning salon, make sure they use low pressure lamps (look for fluorescent tubes, not round lamps), avoid high pressure lamps which do not provide UVB rays. You may get tan, but you could also get skin damage or cancer.2

Diet and supplements. Generally speaking, everyone should supplement with vitamin D, unless you are impeccable about sun/sun lamp exposure. Infants need 400 to 1,000 iu daily, children 2,000 iu daily and adults 4,000 iu daily as a general starting point. At these doses, you could begin supplementing without a 25 (OH) vitamin D test. After two to three months of supplementation, a blood test will help adjust the dose. If you have questions or concerns, contact a healthcare practitioner who has an understanding of vitamin D. For more information go to www.vitamindcouncil.org, or read the book The Vitamin D Solution by Michael Holick PhD, MD.

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

1. J.S. Adams and M. Hewison, “Update in vitamin D.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Feb;95(2):471-8.

2. M.F. Holick, The Vitamin D Solution, Hudson Street Press, 2010.

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Sure, those nifty plastic bottles are convenient, but when’s the last time you actually stopped to think about what’s in your bottled water? Not only is it usually as contaminated (or more) with harmful chemicals as tap water, and its damage to the environment is beyond repair, but now a recent study is giving us one more reason to avoid bottled water.

Researchers in Canada found that the bacteria levels in more than 70 percent of bottled water samples exceed the recommended safe levels for humans to drink, and in some samples they found over 100 times the recommended safe levels of bacteria…yikes!

Now, I know it’s impossible to remove 100% of the bacteria from water—it just can’t be done. Bacteria are everywhere, but at very low amounts they pose no threat to our health. It’s when the levels of bacteria are much higher that we need to worry, especially folks who are more vulnerable to bacterial infections, like infants, older adults, pregnant and nursing women, and people who are immunocompromised (that is, their immune systems are weakened because of illness or treatment). 

The general consensus is that a good home filtration system is best, and if you need water on the go, do yourself a favor and invest in a stainless steel or BPA- and phthalate-free water bottle that you can fill up at home and carry with you. Yes, convenience is usually a good thing, but I think I speak for the majority when I say that our health and the health of our environment are much more important.

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