Mediterranean food guide to a healthier baby
Expectant mums in anti-allergy trials
PREGNANT women are taking part in trials to see if a Mediterranean diet can cut the risk of their babies developing asthma and food allergies.
They are shunning processed food for a regime of olive oil, fish, fruit and vegetables as part of groundbreaking research by experts.
The tests follow a surge in asthma deaths, which claim 100 lives a year in Scotland, and a sharp rise in conditions such as hay fever and eczema.
A pilot study has taken place and scientists at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, plan to carry out further research over the coming years to see if diet can play a key role in prevention.
Scotland has some of the highest allergy rates in the world, affecting 30 per cent of children and 25 per cent of adults.
Cases have increased dramatically over the past 40 years, while rates remain low in countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece.
Experts believe one factor could be their diet, which is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Dr Dean Sewell, of Heriot-Watt’s School of Life Sciences, who is leading the trials, said: ‘Studies have suggested that a Mediterranean diet could have a protective role in preventing allergy.
‘But there are no high quality trials in this area.
‘Rather than looking at pregnant women taking vitamin supplements, we chose to look at the whole dietary pattern.
‘It’s not a very different diet, or a fad diet, just a healthy diet that we are already trying to encourage the UK population towards – more fruit and vegetables, less saturated fat and red meat, more olive oil, pulses and grains and not too much dairy. However, because these were pregnant women we did not discourage dairy and we did not recommend drinking any alcohol.’
He added: ‘We carried out a pilot study, where pregnant women
‘Rates are low in countries like Italy’
were offered to come on to the trial at their 12 week scan.
‘Women did increase their adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Some already had aspects of it but there was room for improvement.’
Now the researchers will embark upon a further trial involving more women and monitor them and their children over several years to see how diet makes a difference.
In the pilot test, women were set targets to increase their consumption of healthy foods and given recipes such as vegetable soup.
They were advised to cut down on red meat, trim the fat off and eat more white meat and fish. They also received shopping vouchers to buy olive oil.
A typical Mediterranean diet is high in fresh vegetables, fruit, peas, beans and grains. Most of the fat is unsaturated. A typical Western diet is high in animal fat, sugar and preservatives.
Experts acknowledge that allergies have many causes, including family history.