| Good nutrition is important at any time, but is particularly | | | | conclusive and the research sample size was small, |
| vital for expecting mothers - in fact, a recent study | | | | the results supported an earlier study looking into the |
| suggests that eating well and taking multi-vitamins may | | | | possible causes of brain tumors in children. |
| be even more important at this time than was | | | | The research found that women who took |
| previously thought. | | | | supplements close to the time of conception, and who |
| As early as the 1950s, doctors began to recognize the | | | | ate foods high in iron and folic acid, were less likely to |
| significance of folate, or folic acid, for fetuses in the | | | | have children with two possible types of brain tumors - |
| earliest stages of development. Adequate levels of | | | | medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal. |
| folic acid (a B vitamin) can help prevent neural tube | | | | However, vitamins taken later in pregnancy did not |
| defects like spina bifida; unfortunately, the crucial time | | | | seem to offer the same benefits. |
| period when it should be taken is often over before a | | | | The study also looked at possible links between the |
| woman even realizes that's she's pregnant. | | | | consumption of cured meats (containing nitrates and |
| For that reason, it's recommended that all women of | | | | nitrosamines) and brain tumors. These substances |
| child-bearing age ensure they're getting enough folic | | | | have been found to induce nervous system tumors in |
| acid. The task was made a little easier when folate | | | | animals, but the research did not find a correlation |
| became a standard additive in flour-based foods such | | | | between women who ate cured meats and the |
| as bread and pasta; but many women who are | | | | development of brain tumors in children. |
| pregnant or trying to conceive choose to supplement | | | | Women in the United States and Canada were |
| their diet with a prenatal vitamin high in folic acid and | | | | interviewed for this case-control study - 315 mothers |
| iron. | | | | of children who had been diagnosed with |
| Researchers have recently uncovered a similar | | | | medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumors |
| association between nutrition and the development of | | | | before the age of six, as well as 315 mothers of age |
| childhood brain tumors. Although the study was not | | | | and area code-matched control subjects. |