Dietary Information to Support a Healthy Pregnancy in Vietnamese Americans

: Healthy lifestyle habits spanning from preconception to postpartum are considered as a major safeguard for achieving successful pregnancies and for the prevention of gestational diseases. Among preconception priorities established by the World Health Organization (WHO) are healthy diet and nutrition, weight management, physical activity, planned pregnancy and physical, mental and psychosocial health. Most studies covering the topic of healthy pregnancies focus on maternal diet because obesity increases the risks for adverse perinatal outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, large for gestational age newborns, or preeclampsia. Thus, foods rich in vegetables, essential and polyunsaturated fats and fibre-rich carbohydrates should be promoted especially in overweight, obese or diabetic women. An adequate intake of micronutrients (e.g. iron, calcium, folate, vitamin D and carotenoids) is also crucial to support pregnancy and breastfeeding. Moderate physical activity throughout pregnancy improves muscle tone and function, besides decreasing the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabesity (i.e. diabetes associated with obesity) and postpartum overweight. Intervention studies claim that an average of 30 min of exercise/day contributes to long-term benefits for maternal overall health and wellbeing. Other factors such as microbiome modulation, behavioural strategies (e.g. smoking cessation, anxiety/stress reduction and sleep quality), maternal genetics and age, social class and education might also influence the maternal quality of life. These factors contribute to ensure a healthy pregnancy, or at least to reduce the risk of adverse maternal and foetal outcomes during pregnancy and later in life.

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The study of Apara (placenta) and its correlation with the Prakriti and Weight of newborn

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences (JAIMS) ◽

10.21760/jaims.v2i05.10250 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (05) ◽

Author(s):

Apurva Dhakulkar ◽

Sachin Khedikar

Keyword(s):

Basic Concept ◽

Normal Development ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Multiple Functions ◽

Intrauterine Life ◽

Foetal Growth ◽

Healthy Pregnancy ◽

The One

The placenta is the most important and the only organ between mother and foetus serving multiple functions like endocrinal, respiratory and metabolic. Normal development of the placenta is the one of the important requirements for a healthy pregnancy, regulating foetal growth and foetal health so that formation of the healthy progeny. In cotemporary sciences many researches are going in the aim of formation of healthy progeny. Apara is the vital feature related to Garbha Sharira in Ayurveda, but its description is in a Sutra form. Hence this study is an humble attempt to explore the concept of ‘Ayurveda Garbha Sharira’ by studying the description of Apara trying to establishment of the assessment of correlation between features of placenta with that of Prakriti is more instinct for this study. Prakriti is the basic concept of Ayurveda. It forms in intrauterine life by combination of Shukra and Shonita. However we do not find direct references of Apara relation with the Prakriti of newborn in Ayurveda. This study intends to fill in the lacunae of both the disciplines by knowledge of integration. If this study establishes some parameters based on the characteristics of Apara with weight and Prakriti of newborn then it will be the unique contribution for Ayurveda Garbha Sharira.

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Multilevel Pathways of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Vietnamese Americans: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/10732748211011077 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 107327482110110

Author(s):

Grace X. Ma ◽

Lin Zhu ◽

Timmy R. Lin ◽

Yin Tan ◽

Phuong Do

Keyword(s):

Health Beliefs ◽

Low Income ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Limited English Proficiency ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Vietnamese Americans ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Community Based ◽

Related Factors ◽

Crc Screening

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) disproportionately affects Vietnamese Americans, especially those with low income and were born outside of the United States. CRC screening tests are crucial for prevention and early detection. Despite the availability of noninvasive, simple-to-conduct tests, CRC screening rates in Asian Americans, particularly Vietnamese Americans, remain suboptimal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interplay of multilevel factors – individual, interpersonal, and community – on CRC screening behaviors among low-income Vietnamese Americans with limited English proficiency. Methods: This study is based on the Sociocultural Health Behavior Model, a research-based model that incorporates 6 factors associated with decision-making and health-seeking behaviors that result in health care utilization. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we recruited 801 Vietnamese Americans from community-based organizations. We administered a survey to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and CRC screening-related factors. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify direct and indirect predictors of lifetime CRC screening. Results: Bivariate analysis revealed that a greater number of respondents who never screened for CRC reported limited English proficiency, fewer years of US residency, and lower self-efficacy related to CRC screening. The SEM model identified self-efficacy (coefficient = 0.092, P < .01) as the only direct predictor of lifetime CRC screening. Educational attainment (coefficient = 0.13, P < .01) and health beliefs (coefficient = 0.040, P < .001) had a modest significant positive relationship with self-efficacy. Health beliefs (coefficient = 0.13, P < .001) and educational attainment (coefficient = 0.16, P < .01) had significant positive relationships with CRC knowledge. Conclusions: To increase CRC screening uptake in medically underserved Vietnamese American populations, public health interventions should aim to increase community members’ confidence in their abilities to screen for CRC and to navigate associated processes, including screening preparation, discussions with doctors, and emotional complications.

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Molecular regulation of lung maturation in near-term fetal sheep by maternal daily vitamin C treatment in late gestation

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01489-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erin V. McGillick ◽

Sandra Orgeig ◽

Beth J. Allison ◽

Kirsty L. Brain ◽

Youguo Niu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin C ◽

Lung Development ◽

Fetal Lung ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Lung Maturation ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

Healthy Pregnancy ◽

Daily Vitamin ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Fetal Lung Maturation

Abstract Background In the fetus, the appropriate balance of prooxidants and antioxidants is essential to negate the detrimental effects of oxidative stress on lung maturation. Antioxidants improve respiratory function in postnatal life and adulthood. However, the outcomes and biological mechanisms of antioxidant action in the fetal lung are unknown. Methods We investigated the effect of maternal daily vitamin C treatment (200 mg/kg, intravenously) for a month in late gestation (105–138 days gestation, term ~145 days) on molecular regulation of fetal lung maturation in sheep. Expression of genes and proteins regulating lung development was quantified in fetal lung tissue. The number of surfactant-producing cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results Maternal vitamin C treatment increased fetal lung gene expression of the antioxidant enzyme SOD-1, hypoxia signaling genes (HIF-2α, HIF-3α, ADM, and EGLN-3), genes regulating sodium movement (SCNN1-A, SCNN1-B, ATP1-A1, and ATP1-B1), surfactant maturation (SFTP-B and ABCA3), and airway remodeling (ELN). There was no effect of maternal vitamin C treatment on the expression of protein markers evaluated or on the number of surfactant protein-producing cells in fetal lung tissue. Conclusions Maternal vitamin C treatment in the last third of pregnancy in sheep acts at the molecular level to increase the expression of genes that are important for fetal lung maturation in a healthy pregnancy. Impact Maternal daily vitamin C treatment for a month in late gestation in sheep increases the expression of gene-regulating pathways that are essential for normal fetal lung development. Following late gestation vitamin C exposure in a healthy pregnancy, an increase in lung gene but not protein expression may act as a mechanism to aid in the preparation for exposure to the air-breathing environment after birth. In the future, the availability/development of compounds with greater antioxidant properties than vitamin C or more specific targets at the site of oxidative stress in vivo may translate clinically to improve respiratory outcomes in complicated pregnancies at birth.

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Health behaviours in 131,182 UK women planning pregnancy

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-04007-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Beth McDougall ◽

Kimberley Kavanagh ◽

Judith Stephenson ◽

Lucilla Poston ◽

Angela C. Flynn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Folic Acid Supplementation ◽

Preconception Health ◽

Younger Women ◽

Healthy Pregnancy ◽

Folic Acid Supplements ◽

Weekly Physical Activity ◽

The Uk ◽

Changes Over Time

Abstract Background A woman’s health at the time of conception lays the foundation for a healthy pregnancy and the lifelong health of her child. We investigated the health behaviours of UK women planning pregnancy. Methods We analysed survey data from the ‘Planning for Pregnancy’ online tool (Tommy’s, UK). We described all women planning pregnancy and compared the frequency of non-adherence to preconception recommendations in women who had already stopped contraception (active planners) and those who had not (non-active planners). Results One hundred thirty-one thousand one hundred eighty-two women from across the UK were included, of whom 64.8% were actively planning pregnancy. Of the whole cohort, twenty percent were smokers and less than one third took folic acid supplements (31.5%). Forty two percent engaged in less than the recommended 150 min of weekly physical activity and only 53.3% consumed five portions of fruit or vegetables 4 days a week. Smokers were 1.87 times more likely to be active planners than non-smokers (95% CI 1.79–1.94), and women who took folic acid were 7 times more likely to be active planners (95% CI 6.97–7.59) compared to women who did not. Smoking, drug use and lack of folic acid supplementation were common in younger women and those who were underweight. Conclusions This unique survey of UK women has identified poor adherence to preconception recommendations in those planning pregnancies and supports the need for a greater public health focus on preconception health. This study provides a contemporary basis from which to inform preconception health advice and a benchmark to measure changes over time.

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