Comments on: Birth Defect Risk Increased by Mother's High Fat Diet http://ecochildsplay.com/2010/07/28/birth-defect-risk-increased-by-mothers-high-fat-diet/ Green and Natural Parenting for Eco-Friendly Families Fri, 25 May 2012 07:16:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Does a Maternal Vegetarian Diet Cause Hypospadias? http://ecochildsplay.com/2010/07/28/birth-defect-risk-increased-by-mothers-high-fat-diet/#comment-17125 Does a Maternal Vegetarian Diet Cause Hypospadias? Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:48:03 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=8156#comment-17125 [...] recent comment to the post “Birth Defect Risk Increased by Mother’s High Fat Diet” prompted me to do a little research into the potential harm of a maternal vegetarian diet. [...] [...] recent comment to the post “Birth Defect Risk Increased by Mother’s High Fat Diet” prompted me to do a little research into the potential harm of a maternal vegetarian diet. [...]

]]> By: Katie T. http://ecochildsplay.com/2010/07/28/birth-defect-risk-increased-by-mothers-high-fat-diet/#comment-17124 Katie T. Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:51:30 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=8156#comment-17124 Good points, Jenny. Can you site any studies that show a higher incidence of hypospadias in vegetarians? Not that I don't believe, you, quite the contrary. I ask because I have had multiple friends with sons born with this condition, both vegetarian and omnivore. I have often wondered about the link between environmental toxins, ingestion of hormones, soy, etc. and this condition as it seems rampant. Good points, Jenny. Can you site any studies that show a higher incidence of hypospadias in vegetarians? Not that I don’t believe, you, quite the contrary. I ask because I have had multiple friends with sons born with this condition, both vegetarian and omnivore. I have often wondered about the link between environmental toxins, ingestion of hormones, soy, etc. and this condition as it seems rampant.

]]> By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2010/07/28/birth-defect-risk-increased-by-mothers-high-fat-diet/#comment-17123 Jennifer Lance Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:06 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=8156#comment-17123 Good points about the quality of fat. Good points about the quality of fat.

]]> By: Jenny http://ecochildsplay.com/2010/07/28/birth-defect-risk-increased-by-mothers-high-fat-diet/#comment-17122 Jenny Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:35:44 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=8156#comment-17122 It's important to note that this study was conducted on mice, not humans, and that they were fed a diet in which starch was largely replaced by conventional lard (not a particularly nutrient-dense fat), sugar and vitamin and mineral supplements (most likely synthetic since the researchers didn't specify). To extrapolate that data and say, in turn, that a high fat diet would cause similar defects in humans is really pushing the envelope of what can be considered good science. A diet of conventional lard, sugar and supplements is probably not such a great idea for any animal, human or mouse. But, that's not to say a diet in nutrient-dense, natural fats like raw butter would cause the same effects. Lack of retinol (vitamin A from animal sources) is implicated in congenital defects and a vegetarian diet is implicated in hypospadias in humans. It’s important to note that this study was conducted on mice, not humans, and that they were fed a diet in which starch was largely replaced by conventional lard (not a particularly nutrient-dense fat), sugar and vitamin and mineral supplements (most likely synthetic since the researchers didn’t specify). To extrapolate that data and say, in turn, that a high fat diet would cause similar defects in humans is really pushing the envelope of what can be considered good science. A diet of conventional lard, sugar and supplements is probably not such a great idea for any animal, human or mouse.

But, that’s not to say a diet in nutrient-dense, natural fats like raw butter would cause the same effects. Lack of retinol (vitamin A from animal sources) is implicated in congenital defects and a vegetarian diet is implicated in hypospadias in humans.

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