Want a calm baby? Increase intake of food rich in vitamin B12--study

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Want a calm baby? Increase intake of food rich in vitamin B12--study

Colic, a condition when babies cries without any apparent discomfort/reason, is

a common phenomenon among new born babies.

However, new study researchers are claiming that mothers-to-be can have calmer

babies by increasing their intake of foods like eggs, steak, chicken etc. during

first three months of pregnancy.

Study researchers added, babies of women, who increase their intake of foods

rich in vitamin like B12 (known to help in the development of brain and nervous

system of an unborn baby), are more likely to cry less.

Researchers from Public Health Service in Netherlands, stated, “This study

provides first evidence for an early nutritional origin in infant crying

behavior.

The results suggest infants born to women with a low B12 status during pregnancy

are at a higher risk for excessive crying behavior in their first months of

life.”

Research findings

To arrive at this interesting conclusion, researchers studied nearly 3,000

pregnant women. Through blood test during their first pre-natal appointment,

researchers measured the levels of vitamin B12 in participant’s blood stream.

After the birth of their babies, researchers monitored little ones to know how

often they cried and for how long before they calmed down.

Later on, researchers compared the data collected and found that babies of

women, who had least amount of B12 in their blood, were eight times more prone

to crying.

Study researchers believe this could be because nervous system of babies, whose

mothers consumed less B12, might not have developed fully, in turn leaving them

distressed often.

Nearly, 5 percent of women low on B12 report that their newborn cries often for

prolonged period of time while only 1 percent of women high on B12 reported

colic baby, added researchers.

In-depth research needed

However, medical experts are saying that though study results are interestingly,

in-depth research is needed before establishing concrete facts.

“This is an interesting relationship and one which needs to be looked at

further,” said Janet Fyle from the Royal College of Midwives:

As per nutritionist from London Bishop-Weston, “Meat comes with saturated

fats which can hinder the body's use of essential fats needed for the baby's

brain and nervous system development.”

She too stressed in-depth research is needed as most sources of vitamin B12 are

not good for pregnant women.

The study findings appeared in the journal ‘Early Human Development.’