Do fish oil supplements contain contaminants?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Recent analyses of dozens of brands of fish oil supplements, including testing by ConsumerLab.com, have not found significant levels of mercury or unsafe levels of PCBs, dioxins, or other contaminants—in inexpensive or pricey brands. This is not surprising, since mercury tends to accumulate in larger fish, and supplements are made from smaller species (such as anchovies or sardines) or algae ...

Can I drink caffeine during the course of my pregnancy?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Caffeine has been associated in some animal studies with an increased risk of miscarriage. Studies that reported such correlations were conducted on rats, which have little in common with humans. In most of the studies the amount of caffeine given to the animals was equal to 12 cups of coffee a day. These studies identify 300 mg as the threshold, ...

Can drinking diet soda or anything with artificial sweetener in it while pregnant harm my baby?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

There are several types of artificial sweeteners on the market today. The most popular to date has been Equal (Aspartame), though there is also the new sweetener known and Splenda (Sucralose) as well as the familiar brand SweetÕnÕ Low (Saccharin). Concerns have been raised about the possibility that such sweeteners may in fact cause fetal defects, reproductive complications, and cancer. ...

What is pica?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Pica is an insatiable appetite for non-nutritional materials such as ice, clay, wall plaster, etc. Patients with pica suffer nutritional deficiencies because their appetite for non-nutritional foods often leads to an under consumption of ÒregularÓ foods (i.e. nutritional foods). It is unclear what causes women to develop pica, although iron deficiency has been associated with it.

I have heard that eating tuna can actually be bad for my pregnancy. Is this true?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

To start with, pregnant women should avoid all fish cultivated in fish farms. Fish farms utilize byproducts of large fish processing as part of the mix that makes fish food for the farm-raised fish. Large fish such as sharks, swordfish, tuna, and any other fish that have long life spans and are high in the food chain, are more likely ...