A new study by researchers at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has found that pregnant women in Ghana who eat lots of sugary and processed foods are at much higher risk of giving birth to babies with cleft lip or cleft palate. The study, published in Women Journal, showed that mothers with the highest intake of sweet and energy-dense foods were 22 times more likely to have children with these birth defects than those who consumed the least.
A recent study revealed that mothers who primarily consumed starchy foods, such as cassava and plantain, faced a fourfold increase in the risk of congenital anomalies. In contrast, diets rich in animal protein and vegetables provided some protective benefits. Dr Mary Amoako, the lead author and a lecturer at KNUST’s Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, emphasised the importance of maternal nutrition, particularly before and during early pregnancy, for healthy fetal development. “Our findings indicate that poor diet quality, rather than simply a lack of food, can significantly raise the risk of congenital anomalies,” she stated.
The study, which included 206 mothers, also underscored the prevalence of food insecurity. Nearly half of the mothers with affected children reported experiencing severe food shortages. Additionally, the use of multivitamins and folic acid before pregnancy was alarmingly low, at under 15 percent, despite the fact that supplements are known to reduce the risk of birth defects.
Orofacial clefts occur in approximately one in 700 births worldwide and can lead to lifelong challenges related to feeding, speech, and social interaction. The researchers are urging policymakers to promote food fortification, supplementation, and enhanced public education on maternal nutrition. The study was supported by the L’Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Programme. Co-authors of the study include Dr. Samuel Atta Tonyemevor, Dr. Lord Jephthah Joojo Gowans, Prof. Alexander Kwarteng, Dr. Collins Afriyie Appiah, Dr. Solomon Obiri-Yeboah, Dr. Daniel Kwesi Sabbah, and Prof. Peter Donkor.
Source: Myjoyonline
Well done