Poor Nutrition Can Cause Premature Birth

Undernourished pregnant women may be more likely to give premature birth, says a New Zealand study that looked at the impact of poor diet on pregnant sheep.

The study found that sheep that were underfed 60 days before conception and 30 days after conception were much more likely than well-fed sheep to give birth prematurely, HealthScout News reports.

The study appears in the April 25 issue of the journal Science.

Study author Dr. Frank Bloomfield told HealthScout News that relatively small changes in nutrient intake around the time of conception can have a profound impact on the fetus many months later.

"If these findings are indeed applicable to humans, then there would be significant implications for research into preterm birth, and in the future when more information is available, hopefully into preventative measures to reduce the incidence of preterm birth," Bloomfield said.

-- Robert Preidt and Scott Roberts

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