London: A daily diet of whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables, and fish may reduce the risk of premature birth by 15 per cent, a new study has claimed. In the study, participants completed a scientifically evaluated questionnaire about what they had been eating and drinking since becoming pregnant.
The results showed that the group of women with the 'healthiest' pregnancy diet had a roughly 15 per cent lower risk of pre-term delivery compared with those with the most unhealthy diet. The correlation remained after controlling for ten other known risk factors for pre-term delivery, researchers said.
The researchers also had access to information about the women's general lifestyle. "Pregnant women have many reasons to choose a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grain products and some types of fish, but this is the first time we can statistically link healthy eating habits to reduced risk of pre-term delivery," said Linda Englund-Ogge, researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
Pre-term delivery, defined as spontaneous or induced delivery before the end of gestational week 37, can be associated with acute and long-term complications and is a major problem in modern maternity care, researchers said.
"It is not harmful to occasionally eat something unhealthy. But our study shows that the dietary recommendations given to pregnant women are important," said Englund-Ogge.
