Publications by authors named "Sissel K Aagaard"

Introduction: In pregnancy, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. The underlying mechanisms are not known, but placental dysfunction is believed to play a role. In a Danish population, where health authorities recommend a 10 µg/day vitamin D supplement during pregnancy, we explored current use of vitamin D supplements and vitamin D status.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the accident-related mortality among people younger than 55 years of age with epilepsy compared with the general population and to study how psychiatric comorbidity influences this risk.

Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of individuals born in Denmark between 1960 and 2015 (n = 3, 665 616). Persons diagnosed with epilepsy and psychiatric disorders were identified in the Danish National Patient Register and the Danish Central Psychiatric Central Register.

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Using self-reports and blood samples from 225 unselected Danish first trimester pregnant women, the purpose of this study was to assess their use of stimulants, for example caffeine and nicotine as well as over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. According to self-reported information, 24% had used prescription drugs and 48% had used OTC drugs mainly acetaminophen (42%), 9.3% were habitual smokers, 44% stated a daily use of caffeinated beverages, and 1.

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Background: The use of alternative medicines and dietary supplements is constantly changing, as are dietary habits. One example of this phenomenon is the current popularity of ginger products as an everyday health boost. Ginger and licorice has also been shown to ameliorate nausea a common complaint in early pregnancy.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of xenobiotic substances, such as caffeine, nicotine and illicit drugs (eg, cannabis and cocaine), in blood samples from first-trimester Danish pregnant women unaware of the screening.

Design: A crosssectional study examined 436 anonymised residual blood samples obtained during 2014 as part of the nationwide prenatal first-trimester screening programme. The samples were analysed by ultra performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

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Studies have reported a widespread use of herbal medicine in the general population (6-48%) and among pregnant women (4-69%) with great geographic and socio-economic variations in the extent of utilization and compounds used. The use of herbal medicine in Denmark remains relatively undescribed. Equivalent to conventional drugs, herbal medicine has side effects, interactions and contraindications.

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