Mums-to-be advised to eat grains

Pregnant women will have to watch what they eat after researchers discovered a link between the diet of mothers-to-be and the respiratory conditions of their children.

Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have found that if the mother's diet is low in vitamin E, it affects the development of the babies' lungs and the immune system's response to allergens.

Professor Graham Devereux said: "Our work has shown that those who have a diet low in foods containing vitamin E - some examples are grains, nuts and cereals - are more likely to have kids who have asthma."

The UK's asthma numbers have risen considerably in the last 40 years. While 4% of children suffered from asthma in the 1960s, around 25% - almost one million - are affected now.

Professor Devereux said: "We used to eat food that was in season that was locally produced and prepared ourselves. Now we eat food that is more processed and there is evidence that the nutrient content has also changed."

The researchers based their findings on an observational study of pregnant women in the north east of Scotland between 1997 and 1998 and following up the health of their babies at the ages of one, two, five and 10.

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