But a new study has found that a particular group of chemicals called metabolites, which are tested for as part of routine newborn screenings, could identify babies with an elevated risk.
The researchers compared the results of newborn screening tests for 354 infants who died of SIDS with 1,416 infants who did not.
“Maybe we’re looking at some food sensitivities,” she said, but added that much more research is needed into the link between SIDS risk and metabolism.
Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie, a neonatologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who also wasn’t involved, similarly questioned whether newborn screenings can provide enough answers.
“But every baby that’s born isn’t going to get a deep-dive genetic evaluation — they do get newborn screenings,” she added.
Persons:
SIDS, Laura Jelliffe, ”, Pawlowski, “, we’re, ’ ”, Stephanie Napolitano, Joanna Parga, “ It’s, Debra Weese, Mayer, wasn’t, isn’t, it’s, ” Napolitano
Organizations:
U.S, Disease Control, New York University, University of California, Nationwide Children’s, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Locations:
SIDS, San Francisco, California