A South Indian study of infants less than six months old hospitalised with signs of fast breathing, vomiting and trouble breastfeeding has found an important link between a mother's diet with her baby's heart.
As per the study by Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, consumption of polished rice can lead to a vitamin B1 deficiency in newborns, which leads to heart ailments. The polishing process removes a nutritious top layer from the rice that is rich in vitamin B1, the study noted.
The six-year study found that 231 out of the 250 babies diagnosed with heart conditions recovered when treated with a vitamin B1 supplement. The findings have been published by the Journal of Archives of Diseases in Childhood.