Consuming fish may reduce premature birth risk
New York, Aug 3 : Eating fish or taking a fish oil supplement may reduce the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women with low level of omega-3 fatty acids, a new study has found.
The findings indicated that pregnant women who had low plasma levels of long chain n-3 fatty acids -- found in fish oil -- in their first and second trimesters were at a significantly higher risk of preterm birth as compared with women who had higher levels of these fatty acids.
The researchers suggests that low concentrations of certain long chain fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) -- may be a strong risk factor for preterm birth.
"At a time when many pregnant women are hearing messages, encouraging them to avoid intake of fish altogether due to mercury content, our results support the importance of ensuring adequate intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy," said lead author Sjurdur F. Olsen from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
Preterm birth, is a leading cause of neonatal death and is associated with cognitive deficiencies and cardiometabolic problems later in life among survivors.
For the study, published in the journal EbioMedicine, the research team examined 96,000 children in Denmark through questionnaires and registry linkages.
They also analysed blood samples from 376 women who gave premature birth (prior to 34 weeks of gestation) between 1996 and 2003 and 348 women who had a full-term birth.
All of the women gave blood samples during their first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
The analysis of the blood samples showed that women who were in the lowest quintile of EPA+DHA serum levels -- with EPA+DHA levels of 1.6 per cent or less of total plasma fatty acids -- had a 10 times higher risk of early preterm birth when compared with women in the three highest quintiles, whose EPA+DHA levels were 1.8 per cent or higher.
Women in the second lowest quintile had a 2.7 times higher risk compared with women in the three highest quintiles.
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'Group of girls playing prank': University on viral video of girl carted around hostel in suitcase
Chandigarh, Apr 13 (PTI): A day after a viral video showed a girl emerging out of a suitcase being carted around on a hostel campus, the private university concerned in Haryana has said it was just a "prank" being played "within the girls' hostel" by some students.
The Sonipat-based university, however, said they have taken the matter seriously and showcaused the students involved, asking them to appear before the disciplinary committee.
Safety and security of students are paramount, a university spokesperson said on Sunday, asserting "we have taken effective and immediate action in this matter".
A video clip from the O P Jindal Global University hostel on Friday showed two female security personnel opening the suitcase and the girl coming out if it. The spooky video was shared widely on social media.
With the clip generating all sorts of social media chatter and theories, the university spokesperson issued a statement on Sunday, saying it just showed a group of girls playing a prank on their friend within their hostel.
They were carting her around in a suitcase and took her outside to the grounds and upstairs, he said. They moved to a public area inside the girls hostel common corridor which is under the CCTV coverage which is when the security guards noticed suspicious activity around the suitcase, he said.
The university has taken effective and immediate action in the incident.
"This incident involved a group of students playing a prank within the girls' hostel, which unfortunately escalated to a public area where security intervened," the spokesperson said.
"All students involved have been issued showcause notices and will face the disciplinary committee. As India's leading institution, O P Jindal Global University takes student security very seriously," the spokesperson said.
Guy tried Sneaking his Girlfriend into the Boys hostel in a Suitcase.. one Bump and she screamed from inside. guards Heard it and they got Caught, Op Jindal Uni
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) April 12, 2025
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