European legislation to protect against discriminationThe European Commission has proposed a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The existing European legal framework applies only to employment, occupation and vocational training. The proposed legislation will apply outside the labour market. The Commission's proposal has to be agreed under the normal legislative process (consultation procedure with the European Parliament and unanimity in Council) before becoming law and finally being implemented in the national legal systems of each Member State. On March 16, 2009, the Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will vote on the proposal. It will be put to the vote in plenary in April. |
The Members of the European Parliament will cast their votes on important legislation against discrimination
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Low vitamin levels could raise risk of Spina BifidaFolic acid fortification is able to reduce neural tube defect prevalence by 50% to 70%. Since it is unlikely that fortification levels will be increased to reduce neural tube defect prevalence further, Irish researchers set out to identify other modifiable risk factors. They focussed on the vitamin B12, because it is metabolically related to folate and previous studies showed that mothers with a low B12 status early in pregnancy had a higher risk of a child with Spina Bifida. The Irish study confirms these findings. Women with the lowest levels of B12 were almost five times more likely to deliver a child with a neural tube defect. The researchers were also able to show that these higher risks were separate to the known dangers of having low levels of folic acid before getting pregnant and in the first weeks of pregnancy.
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Recent Irish research shows that low vitamin B12 levels are associated with the development of neural tube defects |
Mediterranean diet seems to reduce the risk of spina bifidaRecent study results from The Netherlands were published in BJOG , an international Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, volume 116, Issue 3, pages 408-415. Dr. Regine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam and colleagues compared the dietary pattern of mothers with and without a child with Spina Bifida. Women who followed a Mediterranean diet were less likely to have a child with Spina Bifida. Characteristic of a Mediterranean diet are joint intakes of fruit, vegetables, vegetable oil, alcohol, fish, legumes and cereals, and low intakes of potatoes and sweets. The Mediterranean diet resulted in higher blood levels of folate and vitamin B12. Read more here.
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Fruit, vegetables and vegetable oils contribute to a healthy pregnancy
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IF and Latin AmericaIF is joining efforts to build up the network in Latin America, specifically with organisations in Spanish-speaking countries and Brazil. As part of this project, IF is developing an investigation that concerns research of all organisations for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in Latin America, and all surgical progress, medical information and incidences in the region. When national and regional organisations are united in the IF network, the voice of people with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus could be heard in more places. This is an important step to improve the quality of life of those with SBH and their families in Latin America. For any information, opinion or suggestion, contact the following addresses:
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IF wants the voice of people with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus in Latin America to be heard too
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