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Midpregnancy herbicide exposure linked to increased risk of preterm birth

Exposure to a widely used herbicide during the middle months of pregnancy may increase the chance of giving birth too early, before 37 weeks, a new study shows.

22 Jul 2026

Corn-based foods linked to higher mycotoxin exposure in pregnancy

Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of being exposed to mycotoxins – harmful substances produced by mold – according to Rutgers researchers.

22 Jul 2026

Air pollution mixtures linked to higher early preterm birth risk

Pregnancy puts higher oxygen demands on the body, so expectant mothers breathe significantly more air over the course of a day. When air quality is bad, they're also breathing in more harmful pollutants.

21 Jul 2026

Adverse pregnancy outcomes increase future peripheral artery disease risk

Women who experience pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or preterm delivery have a significantly increased long-term risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) later in life, according to a new study published July 21st in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Casey Crump of the University of Texas, US, and colleagues.

21 Jul 2026

Moderate coffee intake may support heart health, AHA says

The American Heart Association finds that habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower risks of several cardiovascular outcomes, although most evidence comes from observational studies. Moderate intake is generally safe for most adults, while energy drinks and individual caffeine sensitivity may increase cardiovascular concerns.

21 Jul 2026

Less sitting in pregnancy is linked to fewer adverse outcomes

A JAMA cohort study of 470 pregnant women found that lower sedentary time, higher light-intensity activity, and more daily steps across pregnancy were associated with fewer adverse pregnancy outcomes. The findings support testing practical “sit less, move more” interventions, but cannot establish cause and effect.

21 Jul 2026

Wistar scientists develop new bispecific T cell engager to target ovarian cancer

Wistar scientists have developed a new type of bispecific T cell engager, or BTE, that is effective against ovarian cancer in preclinical studies.

21 Jul 2026

Study tests chronotype’s liver link and finds no significant association

Researchers found no significant association between chronotype and FibroScan-derived liver fat or stiffness in 119 medication-naïve adults with overweight or obesity. The exploratory findings cannot exclude smaller effects, particularly for fibrosis, and require confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.

21 Jul 2026

Drinking more water with meals may lead people to eat more

In two randomized crossover studies involving 86 adults, greater water consumption and more frequent switching between bites and sips were associated with higher food and energy intake during beef chili and chicken tikka masala meals. The exploratory secondary analysis cannot establish causality, but it challenges the assumption that drinking water during a meal necessarily curbs eating.

20 Jul 2026

Study reveals geographic gaps in breastfeeding initiation across America

A nationwide analysis led by a UC Riverside (Calif.) professor provides one of the clearest pictures yet of where mothers are least likely to begin breastfeeding their babies in the United States and what circumstances associate with lower rates.

20 Jul 2026

Beetroot juice shows its clearest aerobic benefits in recreational exercisers

A meta-analysis of 38 placebo-controlled trials involving 703 participants found that beetroot juice supplementation was associated with a small improvement in VO2max or VO2peak during aerobic exercise. Benefits were most consistent in recreationally active adults, while evidence in highly trained athletes remained limited and uncertain.

20 Jul 2026

Gut microbial metabolites may shape vulnerability to stress-related mental disorders

Gut microbiome-derived metabolites may influence stress-related mental disorders through neural, immune, endocrine, and epigenetic pathways. Evidence is strongest for depression and preclinical models, while larger longitudinal human studies are needed to establish causality and clinical value.

20 Jul 2026

Prenatal use of certain medications can harm developing fetal brain

A review article by a University of Nebraska Medical Center/Child Health Research Institute research team underscores and describes how altering fundamental brain development processes can be detrimental for the developing baby.

20 Jul 2026

Chrononutrition shows promise for postpartum weight management

New research has found that eating habits that align most closely with a woman's existing routine show promise for losing postpartum baby weight, especially for mothers earlier in the postpartum period.

20 Jul 2026

Filtered coffee links to slower biological aging while instant coffee shows the opposite

Filtered coffee consumption was associated with slower biological aging, while instant coffee was linked to faster aging in UK Biobank participants. The cross-sectional findings do not prove causation, but they suggest that brewing method may influence coffee’s relationship with aging biomarkers.

20 Jul 2026

Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy changes two childhood brain metabolic markers

Randomized maternal fish oil supplementation from pregnancy week 24 lowered offspring cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism at age 10 but did not alter precuneus lactate. The small differences resembled a more adult-like metabolic profile, although researchers found no associated cognitive or behavioral benefits.

19 Jul 2026

Vitamin D falls short as an add-on treatment for endometriosis

An eight-week randomized trial of 66 women found that adjunctive vitamin D did not significantly or meaningfully improve endometriosis pain or quality of life compared with placebo during dienogest therapy. The results do not support routine short-term adjunctive supplementation, although the brief trial and absence of post-treatment vitamin D measurements leave longer-term effects uncertain.

19 Jul 2026

Long-term study shows how neighborhood conditions shape women's heart health

Women who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods face worse heart health and experience faster decline as they approach menopause, according to a long-term study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

17 Jul 2026

Prenatal acetaminophen use not linked to adverse birth outcomes

There is no statistically significant evidence that taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, during pregnancy has a negative impact on how early a child is born or a child's weight at birth, according to new research led by environmental scientists at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

17 Jul 2026

Maternal diets high in UPFs may influence children’s health years later

A narrative review of 84 publications links higher ultra-processed food intake during pregnancy and early childhood with poorer diet quality, maternal complications, childhood obesity, and potential immune, metabolic, and neurodevelopmental effects. The authors identify possible microbiome and biopsychosocial pathways but emphasize that the predominantly observational evidence cannot establish causality.

17 Jul 2026