Folic Acid Part of Fight Against Autism?

New research out of Norway suggests that taking vitamin supplements containing folic acid before conception is linked with a reduced risk – perhaps by as much as 40 percent – of having a child who develops autism.

Folic acid is found naturally in foods like dried beans, peas, nuts and leafy greens, and celebrated for its work helping the body manufacture healthy new cells. It’s also regarded as highly important for soon-to-be-pregnant women, thanks to its power preventing major birth defects related to babies’ brains and spines (like spina bifada, where the two sides of an embryo’s spine fail to join, leaving an incomplete or exposed cord).

Eager to know more, NPR tapped URMC autism expert Dr. Susan Hyman for her take on the new research that included more than 85,000 women. We’re deviating from our traditional Q&A approach and instead pointing you directly to the full NPR report (you can also read a transcript), here.

Susan. L. Hyman, M.D., has three decades of experience treating and researching autism spectrum disorders and is the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on autism, often acting as a spokesperson for the organization. Hyman’s recent research has focused on the diet and nutrition of children with autism and on the most effective behavioral treatments for the developmental disorder.

URMC’s Division of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics – in collaboration with the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities – houses one of the largest Autism Spectrum treatment and research programs in New York State. In addition to diagnostic assessment and clinical treatment, school and community education and consultation, the Division also provides Information and Referral Services and web-based resources, all designed to aid people affected by Autism and those who care for them.

For more information about autism treatment, research and assessment at URMC, click here.

Sugar Tipping Your Scales? Try a Sweet Substitute

Americans consume far too much sugar in their daily diets. That may be old news – but recently the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association suggested that artificial sweeteners might be part of the solution for those of us with a wicked sweet tooth.

Non-nutritive sweeteners are products such as stevia, aspartame, acesulfame-K, neotame, saccharin or sucralose. Although no one is saying they’re a perfect alternative, artificial sweeteners do cut calories by curbing a high intake of regular table sugar.

In light of the obesity epidemic (and tempting seasonal treats like snow cones and ice cream) we asked Dr. Steven Cook, a childhood obesity expert at Golisano Children’s Hospital and member of the American Heart Association, to explain how to swap alternative sweeteners with the real thing.

Scripts: When should we consider using alternative sweeteners?

Cook: People can consider using products containing non-nutritive sweeteners in place of full-calorie products. For instance, grab a yogurt with low- or no-calorie sweetener instead of a full-calorie one. Be careful not to compensate for those saved calories, though. It’s a trick a lot of us play on ourselves far too often — drinking a diet soda now and then using that as an excuse to get a candy bar later.

Scripts: Should I give my children alternative sweeteners?

Cook: Actually, I recommend steering clear of very sweet foods, regardless of what kind of sweetener is used, as often as possible. We develop our eating habits and palate in childhood. When children eat more healthy whole foods, they’ll most likely turn to healthier foods as adults. Instead of sweetened foods, try to give kids naturally sweet foods, like apples and carrots. But some sweetened foods are OK. The key is everything in moderation.

Scripts: How much sugar in a day is OK?

Cook: The AHA recommends that women eat no more than 100 calories a day in sugar, and men, no more than 150. Take a look at your food labels and you’ll see what a challenge that can be — and why the AHA and the ADA are recommending non-nutritive sweeteners to get those sugar-calories down to an acceptable level.

Scripts: Is cutting down on sugar really going to make a difference in my weight and health?

Cook: Yes, especially if you’re significantly above the recommended 100 or 150 calories from sugar. Sugar is essentially empty calories. Your body isn’t likely to need sugar, and it’s been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease in addition to obesity. We’ve seen incredible results from families who cut down or cut out sugar-sweetened beverages and switch to water and skim milk. It takes time to see the results on a scale, but if you stick to it, the benefits are life-long. But be careful: Just because a product has low sugar content, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Read labels and aim to meet the daily recommendations of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy and protein. For more information on a healthy diet, visit www.choosemyplate.gov.

Dr. Cook is an associate professor of ediatrics. To contact him, call the Strong Pediatric Practice at 275-2821 or visit http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/general-peds/index.cfm.

 

Pregnancy: The 9-Month Marathon

Nursery décor.  Daycare. The just-right designer stroller.

When you’re pregnant, there’s no shortage of decisions.

But what about  the myriad of other health choices pregnant women make, almost unconsciously? Whether to reach for that second slice of pizza, or try an apple instead? If  they should take a post-dinner walk around the neighborhood, or camp out on the couch (with a book of baby names)? Late night TV, or a solid eight hours of sleep?

And of course, we’ve all heard the phrase “eating for two,” but what does that really mean? Is pregnancy really cart blanche to pound your way through a nightly pint of Haagan-Daz? Or does it, perhaps, suggest something more powerful – that expecting women have a unique responsibility to make health choices for not only themselves, but, by default, for their babies?

Sure, noshing on a nutrient-rich diet when you’re nauseated – or when you’re only craving french fries and pickles – isn’t easy. Neither is working out when you’re exhausted from growing a human.

Still, these healthy habits are incredibly important. In the clip below, we asked maternal fetal medicine expert Dr. Loralei Thornburg to explain why.

Craving Social Support for Your Pregnancy?

Researchers from the University of Rochester and Cornell University have teamed up to launch a major study, “eMoms Rochester,” that will assess how effectively electronic and web-based strategies can promote healthy behaviors in women both during pregnancy and immediately after their babies are born.

This innovative research effort is the first of its kind and part of a broader federal initiative to evaluate how technologies, such as cell phones, can be employed to improve health.  Women who participate will not only receive information on how to be healthy during and after their pregnancies, but could also receive up to $140 in gift cards as a small “thank you.”

Want more information about the “eMoms Rochester” study? Just visit www.emomsroc.org or call (585) 273-3090.

Just in: Vitamin D Debate Yields New Recommendations

As we quickly approach the shortest day of the year, a group of experts summoned by the nation’s top scientific advisory panel has released updated advice on just how much of the “sunshine vitamin” Americans should consume.

Their new recommendations – the first revisions in 13 years – urged that folks under age 70 consume (by diet and/or supplement) 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To put that in context, that’s triple the earlier allowance (200 IU) for most of that age group. And elderly adults (over 70) who were previously told to consume 600 IU now might need to take as many as 800.

Why all the fuss over vitamin D? In the video below, URMC family physician Dr. Kevin Fiscella explains that the vitamin – which is naturally present in foods like fatty fish, mushrooms, eggs and meat, and which our skin produces when it’s exposed to sunlight – is paramount for building and maintaining strong bones.

But that may not be all; many scientists believe it may also play a preventive role in health conditions like cancer and heart disease, and are busy conducting research to explore those connections.

To hear more about vitamin D, you can watch Dr. Fiscella in the clip below. Want to learn more about his research (which explores vitamin D deficiencies in African-Americans, since sunlight has a more difficult time penetrating darker skin tones)? Click here.