Extract of a Letter from Rev Paul Nicolson,
Chairman, Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, to all 650 new MPs including 226 who have never sat in the House of Commons before especially targetting new Ministers
Poor maternal nutrition. - Iain Duncan Smith and Steve Webb at the DWP, Paul Burstow at DoH. The Scientific Advisory Committee for Nutrition (SACN) considered this subject on the 5th May because I had raised the question with the Child Poverty Bill Committee and with Jim Knight when he was at the DWP. He passed it to Ministers at the DoH; who passed it to SACN without the crucial part of my question. "How can a woman conceive and bear healthy children with an unemployment benefit of £51.85 a week, when the JRF minimum food standard is £43 a week?". I have therefore sent original question direct to SACN. We now await their report.
Just published Research at the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition and Homerton Hospital in the East-end of London has described an appalling state of nutrition in pregnant women and that micronutrient supplementation tailored to requirements in pregnancy given from the earliest booking (usually about 12 weeks after conception) was reported as reducing the number of babies born small for gestational age almost buy half.
Given that this is a small study the data fit with the previous publications describing the poor state of nutrition in the East-ed. As this group of babies is at highest risk to chronic disease. poor learning capability and behavioural pathology, it is essential that this trial is repeated in a large multi-centre trial.
Brough L, Rees GA, Crawford MA, Morton RH, Dorman EK.(2010) Effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on maternal nutrient status, infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population. Br J Nutr. 2010 Apr 23:1-9.
Brough L, Rees GA, Crawford MA, Dorman EK.(2010) Social and ethnic differences in folic acid use preconception and during early pregnancy in the UK: effect on maternal folate status.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2009 Apr;22(2):100-7.