Dad’s Diet Can Prevent Birth Defects Too

Women have known that a well balanced diet will give her unborn child the best change for a healthy beginning. But now research shows that the father’s diet also plays an important role. Both men and women with a Folate deficiency have a greater chance of having a child with some birth defects, including Down’s Syndrome.

A recent study looked at the effects of folate in sperm. Currently, the RDA for folate in men 19 and over is 400 micrograms/day. Researchers asked 89 men to keep a journal of what they ate and then analyzed their sperm. They found lower sperm rates in men who ate over 700 micrograms per day, which made researchers wonder if the RDA for men considering starting a family should be increased, as with women considering children.

One of the best natural sources of Folate is green leafy vegetables. There is also Folate added to many of the foods we eat such as breads and cereals. Not only can a Folate deficiency cause birth defects, but it can also slow the growth rate in infants and children, and cause anemia in adults.

What does this mean for you? Grin; Need I say it? First of all, if you are a woman of childbearing age, this is a time that discussing supplementation with your doctor or dietitian is advised. But by increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains is also advised.

To read the abstract of this study, go to:
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/den036v1
For more information on folate, go to:
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp