Pregnancy

The Link Between Vitamin B3 and Birth Defects: Why You Should Supplement During Pregnancy

There are an estimated 23,000 miscarriages every year in the United States. About 3 percent of babies born in the U.S. have some type of birth defect, and these congenital defects are responsible for about 20 percent of all newborn fatalities. It is common knowledge that many different vitamins are crucial for a healthy pregnancy. Now, a new study claims to have made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying vitamin B3 deficiency as a major cause of both miscarriages and birth defects. Getting enough vitamin B3 during pregnancy may help prevent many congenital birth defects and miscarriages among pregnant women, according to researchers.

What is Vitamin B3?

Also known as niacin, vitamin B3 is essential for healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health. It’s also necessary for the production of NAD, a molecule identified in a new study as crucial for metabolic regulation, energy production, DNA repair and organ development.

Several studies have found that niacin is effective at reducing triglycerides and boosting HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and it has a modest effect on lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. Many people prescribed drugs to control cholesterol, such as Crestor, are also prescribed vitamin B3 supplements. Research has found that niacin can only help control cholesterol when prescribed at high doses, which comes with risks such as liver damage and glucose intolerance. Niacin may also help reduce hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, and it may be recommended for people who have already had a heart attack.

The Link Between Vitamin B3 and Birth Defects

Professor Sally Dunwoodie of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia and her team of researchers pioneered a new study that identified an important factor responsible for many miscarriages and congenital defects of the cleft palate, kidneys, heart and spine. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, is an important breakthrough in pregnancy research as it found that vitamin B3 may cure the molecular deficiencies behind these birth defects and miscarriages.

Researchers discovered that a deficiency in NAD, an important molecule, can prevent a baby’s organs from developing properly in utero. NAD is an essential molecule that is important for cell communication, energy production and DNA repair. Both genetic and environmental factors can disrupt the body’s production of NAD.

The study began by focusing on families with a condition called VACTERL in which people are born with three or more rare congenital defects. The researchers found that NAD deficiency negatively affected the formation of embryos in people exhibiting VACTERL, causing birth defects or miscarriage, but 12 years of research found that NAD deficiency may also be to blame for other cases of congenital defects and miscarriage.

The team discovered that NAD deficiency has a simple cure: Vitamin B3, or niacin, which is used by the body to synthesize NAD. During the study, the researchers found that increasing levels of niacin during pregnancy was able to prevent both birth defects and miscarriages. By introducing high enough levels of vitamin B3 into the diets of pregnant women, miscarriages no longer happened and the babies were born healthy.

A separate study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that at least one-third of pregnant women are low in vitamin B3 during their first trimester, a crucial time for organ development. This study found that vitamin B3 levels were low in about 60 percent of women by the third trimester, despite taking prenatal supplements.

Vitamin B3 for a Healthy Pregnancy

The researchers who discovered the link between vitamin B3 and birth defects believe that the use of B3 complex supplements can be effective at preventing miscarriages and common congenital defects like spina bifida and some kidney and heart defects. Because the earlier separate study found that many pregnant women have a B3 deficiency in their first trimester despite taking prenatal supplements, the scientists believe that an even higher amount of vitamin B3 may be necessary for women than what is available with current supplements.

The researchers say that pregnant women should only take B3 supplements on the recommendations of their physicians as they don’t know which doses are necessary to prevent these complications in every case. Soon, however, they will begin developing a test to measure NAD levels in pregnant women to identify women at risk of miscarriage or birth defects.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends 18 mg of niacin per day for pregnant women, a slightly higher daily dose than 14 mg recommended for all women. Pregnant women can also supplement their diet with foods rich in niacin. This includes:

chicken breast: 9 mg per 3 ounces
turkey: 101 mg per breast
peanuts: 22 mg per 1 cup
tuna: 11 mg per 3 ounces
green peas: 3 mg per 1 cup
mushrooms: 7.5 mg per 1 cup
lean pork chop: 9 mg per 3 ounces
lean beef: 7.5 mg per 3 ounces

While most women can get their daily suggested intake of vitamin B3 from diet alone, this new study suggests that these recommendations should be revisited, especially for women who are at high risk of miscarriage and those found to have low vitamin B3 during pregnancy or while trying to become pregnant.

New Research Highlights the Importance of Getting Enough Vitamin D During Pregnancy

Aug 07 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Recommendations for vitamin intake during pregnancy are constantly being modified to reflect new research. Most people are aware of the importance of taking in enough folic acid and other B vitamins during their child-bearing years. A new study on taking vitamin D during pregnancy suggests that this vitamin also may be crucial to developing children, especially in the areas of social development and motor skills.

The Effects of Vitamin D During Pregnancy

It is well known that it is important to get a wide range of vitamins as part of your prenatal care while pregnant or planning a pregnancy. However, not all vitamins are created equal. Some vitamins, such as folic acid, are more important during pregnancy because we know that a deficiency can cause very serious and specific problems.

Vitamin D is perhaps best known for its effects on mood and on bone growth. Unsurprisingly, it has been linked to fetal bone growth as well. Pregnant women are routinely told to get enough of this vitamin to ensure that their fetus can develop healthy bones. Vitamin D also helps to keep an expecting mother’s bones strong at a time when their body is facing a range of new demands. However, this may not be the only role of this nutrient in growth and development. New research on vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy suggests that a deficiency of this vitamin may have very serious effects on the developing fetus in the areas of social and motor development, effects that can last a lifetime.

Vitamin D and Social Development

Researchers looked at a group of pregnant women who had low vitamin D levels as well as those who had normal amounts of this vitamin while expecting. They assessed the health of the children resulting from these pregnancies and found surprising results. Children who were born to mothers who had a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy scored lower on both social and motor skills. They scored lower on motor skills such as kicking a ball and jumping. In addition, these children had more trouble with social skills in their preschool years.

How can vitamin D affect such a diverse range of skills in a developing fetus? While researchers are not sure of the exact mechanism, it definitely appears that this nutrient has a more profound effect on fetal development than was previously known. Although the effects of low vitamin D are acknowledged by the medical field, American doctors do not currently recommend routine screening of pregnant women for a deficiency of this vitamin. As a result, many expecting mothers may be deficient without knowing it. At a time when many mothers are worried about their children developing autism and other increasingly common neurological disorders, taking a vitamin D supplement may be an easy way to give children a better chance at a healthy life.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Although vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for human health, many modern people are deficient. This vitamin is produced mainly through a reaction found in skin cells when they are exposed to ultraviolet light. Many people in the modern world wear sunscreen to lower their skin cancer risk, leaving them with low vitamin D levels. However, there are several ways to ensure that you get the vitamin D you need without increasing your risk of skin cancer.

• Spend a few minutes a day in direct sunlight without sunscreen. This is not enough to get a sunburn or increase cancer risk but will ensure that your cells are able to manufacture vitamin D.

• Eat foods that are rich in this vitamin. These include eggs, meat, leafy greens and also cereals. Cereals in Western countries are fortified with vitamins A and D, so they are a rich source of this nutrient.

• Take a vitamin D supplement to ensure that you get enough of this vitamin even if you lack sun exposure or a diet rich in animal foods.

• Consider getting a special lamp that emits ultraviolet rays, such as the ones used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These have the wavelength of light needed to encourage your skin to produce vitamin D.

Not Just for Pregnant Women

Even if you are not pregnant, your body needs vitamin D to survive and to thrive. Vitamin D has a variety of effects that are beneficial to all people. It is important in producing the biochemicals that contribute to maintaining a happy and positive mood, which is why a deficiency has been shown to cause depression and seasonal affective disorder. It also is important to the growth and remodeling of your bones. Vitamin D serves as a cofactor in a variety of important metabolic reactions. People who are deficient in this vitamin often find that they suffer fatigue, malaise and sleep disorders. Last, this vitamin is important to the immune system. Without it, you may find that you become sick more easily and take longer to recover from even minor and routine illness.

Eating a well-balanced diet is crucial to human health. However, the food supply is more depleted in nutrients than ever before. More and more people are finding that they have better health when taking a multivitamin with a wide range of essential vitamins and nutrients. Good nutrition is the building block of good health, so getting your vitamins either from a balanced diet or a supplement is more important than ever.

Not Getting Enough Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy Boosts Disease Risk for Baby

Nov 16 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Many people have are familiar with the importance of getting enough folic acid or folate, also known as vitamin B9, when pregnant. However, getting enough vitamin B12 during pregnancy is also important. New research underscores the importance of getting all of your B vitamins—especially vitamin B12—if you are pregnant or planning to conceive soon.

What Is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is used in a wide variety of cellular reactions. Essentially, it is a puzzle piece among many vitamins that are important for metabolism, energy production and other vital processes. People who do not get enough of this vitamin suffer from depressed mood, poorer memory and mental function and even a higher risk of infection. A long-term deficiency can cause permanent dementia and a variety of other serious illnesses. Pregnant women who do not get enough vitamin B12 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with serious—and sometimes deadly—neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Because vitamin B12 is water soluble, our cells do not store it in any significant amount. Going even a short time without foods or vitamins containing B12 can result in noticeable health effects. Most people who eat animal products usually get enough of this critical vitamin in their diets, as it is present in high levels in meat and eggs. However, there are times in life when your vitamin needs increase sharply, beyond what a typical Western diet can support. Pregnancy is one of these times. Pregnant women, especially those who do not eat a lot of animal products, are at e high risk of a B12 deficiency.

The Importance of Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy

According to new research, a vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy may have more effects than previously realized. Even babies who are born appearing to be in good health may suffer the consequences over their lifetimes. In one study, vitamin B12 levels were measured in pregnant women and both their and their babies’ health was analyzed. Babies born to mothers with a B12 deficiency had markedly lower levels of leptin, which is known as the “satiety hormone.” Low levels of leptin cause a person to need to eat more to feel satisfied, predisposing them to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other diseases. They also stored more fat. While extra fat stores are generally healthy in an infant, they can be a health problem later in life. Even worse, babies whose mothers had low vitamin B12 during pregnancy were more likely to become diabetic later in life.

This was a small study so it will need to be repeated to confirm the results. However, researchers and doctors are already calling for an increase in the recommended intake of vitamin B12 during pregnancy to ensure that women get ample amounts of this critical vitamin. With a large proportion of the population struggling with obesity, diabetes and the many related health problems, it is important to ensure we have the basic building blocks we need for a healthy metabolism. This is especially true when we are eating for two, such as when pregnant or breastfeeding.

I Thought Eating Too Much Meat Was Bad for Me?

The irony of this and other studies underscoring the importance of vitamin B12 during pregnancy and throughout one’s life is that many people believe they must cut back on meat and other B12-rich foods to improve their health. While eating a lot of animal products can negatively affect your health, these foods do contain nutrients that we need to be healthy and to bear healthy children. Ultimately, a well-balanced diet appears to be the key to leading a healthy life both in pregnancy and beyond. Pregnant women should eat a variety of foods and also take a high-quality prenatal multivitamin supplement to ensure their high nutritional needs are met. This is especially true for women who are vegetarian or unable to get enough animal products in their diet.

It is important for pregnant and breastfeeding women to talk to their doctors about any supplements that they are taking. However, during pregnancy, most doctors recommend taking a prenatal vitamin formula to ensure that you always have the building blocks that you and your baby need to enjoy optimal health. Eating a well-rounded diet and taking vitamins is an important way of giving your children the best chance at leading long, healthy lives.

Are Prenatal Vitamins a Pregnancy Necessity?

Jul 22 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

It’s a long-held belief that all expecting mothers should take a prenatal vitamin formula to reduce the risk of birth defects, nutrient deficiencies and other health problems. However, there are always skeptics who chime in as to why supplementing with extra nutrients may not actually be necessary while pregnant. If you’re on the fence, here is some of the latest information supporting the importance of supplementing with a prenatal vitamin while pregnant.

Folic Acid Is Crucial

Folic acid is also known as folate or vitamin B9. This vitamin is needed for the synthesis and creation of DNA, the production of red blood cells, the metabolism of amino acids, and for the growth of the placenta and fetus. A woman’s need for folic acid increases during pregnancy. Although the United States started fortifying grain products with vitamin B9 in 1998, most women still don’t get enough of it.

Taking folic acid is essential for reducing the risk of neural tube defects. This type of birth defect can be very severe,and some of these defects have a very low survival rate and life expectancy. One well-known neural tube defect is spina bifida, which occurs when the membranes around the spinal cord do not close completely. Spina bifida usually requires after-birth surgery and periodic medical attention throughout life. Another example of a neural tube defect is anencephaly, in which the baby is born lacking a cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain.

Although neural tube defects are a terrible thing for a mother to experience, it’s also easy to greatly reduce your unborn child’s risk. In countries where flour is fortified with folic acid, there is a 46 percent lower rate of neural tube defects. You can bring the number down even further by simply taking a prenatal supplement with folic acid every day.

Folic acid may also help prevent other birth defects including heart defects and cleft palate, though more research is needed to confirm this. Additionally, because neural tube defects take place before most women even know they are pregnant, it’s important to start taking a prenatal vitamin formula with folic acid as soon as you start trying to conceive.

Other Benefits of Prenatal Supplements

Folic acid is arguably the most important prenatal vitamin that you should take. However, there are a few other nutrients with pregnancy benefits that you should learn about.

It is prudent for expecting mothers to take a supplement with vitamin D. Although vitamin D is obtained through sunlight, fortified dairy, fatty fish and egg yolk, most Americans still don’t get enough of it. Being deficient in vitamin D may increase your risk of preeclampsia, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, low birth weight, preterm birth, gestational diabetes and the need for caesarean delivery.

Calcium is one of few nutrients that your body takes from its own stores in order to help your baby grow. This means that if you aren’t getting enough calcium in your diet, your body will take it from your bones and teeth. You can reduce your risk of lifelong bone density problems by taking a prenatal vitamin formula containing calcium.

Some of the other most important nutrients to look for in a prenatal supplement include iron, iodine, choline and omega-3 fatty acids.

So, Do I Need a Prenatal Vitamin?

There remain some people who argue against the benefits of taking a prenatal vitamin formula. Skeptics raise some good points, such as the fact that you don’t necessarily need to supplement every single vitamin and mineral. However, the reality is that most Americans fall short when it comes to many key nutrients and that your need for certain vitamins like vitamin D and folic acid do rise during pregnancy. What’s more, nutrient deficiencies in the mother have more severe effects in babies. Ultimately, research supports incorporating a comprehensive prenatal vitamin formulation into your prenatal care program during pregnancy and beyond, while breastfeeding.

One study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility called the “Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment Study” found that women who take a prenatal multivitamin daily during pregnancy have a 55 percent lower risk of losing their baby. Other studies have found consistent reductions in the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm birth.

Some people are more likely to highly benefit from taking a prenatal multivitamin formula than others. Supplementation during pregnancy is even more crucial for teenage mothers, women who smoke or have a history of using other substances, women who have suffered from eating disorders, women who take certain medications, vegetarians and vegans and women who are carrying twins, triplets, or beyond. However, taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin formula is a necessity for all women who are expecting or trying to conceive. This is confirmed by several health authorities: the Endocrine Society, the American Thyroid Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend multivitamins during pregnancy. Despite what the skeptics say, most OBGYNs and family doctors also recommend supplementing with a prenatal vitamin formula.

The Top Four Essential Pregnancy Vitamins and Nutrients

May 11 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Pregnancy is a time of high nutritional needs for both the mother and the unborn child. During pregnancy, not only must you support your own body through many huge changes, but you also need to provide the basic building blocks of nutrition so your baby can grow and flourish. While doctors encourage getting as many vitamins and nutrients as possible from a healthy diet, most will also recommend taking a prenatal vitamin formula to supplement the diet. Taking pregnancy vitamins with a full range of essential vitamins and minerals will ensure that you and your baby are getting the nutrition you need during this crucial developmental period.

Pregnancy Vitamins and Minerals: Building Blocks for a Healthy Baby

While not all people have the same nutritional needs, there are a few commonalities that apply to most. This is also true for pregnant women. While all humans suffer health consequences from a lack of vitamins, the effects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies are more severe in developing babies. For this reason, most doctors recommend that pregnant women take prenatal or pregnancy vitamins to ensure the healthiest pregnancy possible. Although a wide variety of vitamins and minerals are necessary in adequate amounts for a healthy pregnancy and baby, four specific nutrients are particularly important.

Folic Acid and Development

Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients for a growing baby. In fact, doctors recommend that all women of childbearing age take this vitamin because of how crucial it is in early pregnancy. In the first three or four weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s neural tube will form into the spinal cord and brain. A deficiency of folic acid can cause defects in this process. Getting enough folic acid is also important throughout the rest of pregnancy, as it necessary for making the red blood cells that carry oxygen to developing organs and tissues.

Calcium: Building Strong Bones and Teeth

Because your baby’s bones and teeth are just developing, they require a great deal of calcium. Calcium is one of only a few nutrients that your body will take from your own stores in order to help your growing baby. This means that women who are not taking in enough calcium for both themselves and their unborn baby must take a supplement, or risk losing calcium from their bones and suffering serious lifelong bone density issues. Many women in past generations lost teeth or suffered from osteoporosis because of pregnancy-related bone loss. The good news is that a healthy diet and pregnancy vitamins should give you and your baby both all the calcium you need.

Prevent Anemia with Iron

When you’re pregnant, your body must make a great deal more blood. Because it is hard to get all of the iron you need to support this increased blood volume from diet alone, anemia is very common in pregnant women. In fact, half of all pregnant women are anemic. Mild anemia will make you feel tired and pale, but severe anemia can compromise your health as well as your baby’s. Anemia is easily treated in most women with high-quality pregnancy vitamins.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential Elements of Prenatal Nutrition

A growing body of evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, often available in the form of fish oil supplements, are an essential part of nutrition, especially in pregnancy. Two particular omega-3s called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are especially crucial. EPA helps your baby build a healthy heart and immune system, and it may even help protect against autoimmune disease. DHA, on the other hand, helps the eyes, brain and central nervous system to work optimally. Because fish is not a huge part of the Western diet, many pregnant women in the U.S. and Europe are deficient in these important nutrients. For this reason, most doctors recommend taking pregnancy vitamins that contain DHA and EPA.

Are All Pregnancy Vitamins Created Equal?

Most prenatal vitamins contain the basic elements needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet. However, there is often a wide range of difference in both quantities of certain nutrients and quality of ingredients among the various pregnancy vitamins on the market today. In addition, many formulas do not contain omega-3 fatty acids because the research on these oils is relatively new and the technology to incorporate fatty acids into a capsule or tablet is cost-prohibitive. As a result, pregnant women must often take an omega-3 supplement in addition to their regular prenatal or pregnancy vitamins. Finding a prenatal vitamin formula that incorporates the omega-3 fatty acids needed for brain and nervous system health is ideal. As with all supplements, you should talk to your doctor about which type of pregnancy vitamin formula is the best choice for you and your baby.

Are you ready to have the healthiest possible pregnancy? Getting the best possible nutrition, including eating a healthy diet and taking prenatal vitamins, is an important way you can support your baby’s growth and help him or her develop the foundation for a lifetime of good health.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Pregnancy: The Serious Consequences for Mother and Baby

Apr 06 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Vitamin D is a crucial vitamin for a variety of cell processes. Many modern people don’t get enough of this essential nutrient, a situation which can have serious health effects. New research suggests that the effects of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can be especially devastating and links low vitamin D levels to lifelong health problems for the fetus, including multiple sclerosis.

The Role of Vitamin D in the Human Body

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that is available in animal products such as fish, eggs and cheeses. In addition, many people get vitamin D from sun exposure. However, vitamin D deficiency is very common. Because it plays a crucial role in bone strength and immune system health, being deficient can have very negative effects. People who have low vitamin D can get brittle bones as well as a variety of cancers. In addition, there appears to be a link between vitamin D deficiency, especially during pregnancy, and autoimmune disease.

The Importance of Vitamin D in Pregnancy

Vitamin D levels have been linked to a variety of pregnancy conditions, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean delivery. These can all have serious effects on both mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia, which is more likely in women with vitamin D deficiency, threatens the life of both mother and child and often makes a premature delivery necessary.

In addition, a deficiency of vitamin D during pregnancy can have direct life-altering effects on the fetus. Low maternal vitamin D has been linked to risks such as dental problems, lifelong lowering of bone density, and type 1 diabetes.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin D has been shown in studies to have a protective effect against multiple sclerosis. This is likely the reason that people in far northern latitudes with less sunshine are more likely to develop this disease. New research suggests that a mother’s vitamin D intake can affect their daughters for years to come. In a recent study, women born to a mother who had low vitamin D levels during pregnancy were found to be significantly more likely to develop multiple sclerosis.

While the reason for this link is still unproven, there are several hypotheses about how this could happen. Most of these relate to the role of vitamin D in the immune system. Vitamin D decreases levels of inflammatory immune molecules that have been implicated in a wide variety of autoimmune diseases. This may prevent the neurological damage associated with multiple sclerosis from occurring.

Pregnancy Nutrition: Essential for Mother and Child

Good nutrition is one of the most important factors in a pregnant woman’s health, as well as that of her baby. Because of this, doctors test pregnant women for deficiencies of important nutrients such as iron and frequently recommend prenatal supplements that provide vitamins like folic acid, which are proven essential building blocks for a healthy pregnancy.

Is it time for a change in the way vitamin D is prescribed for pregnant women? Most obstetricians expect that women get plenty of this nutrient in their diets and via multivitamins. Pregnant women are not tested for a deficiency in this important nutrient unless they are having extreme symptoms. The result is that many women may unknowingly not be getting the amount of vitamin D needed for optimal maternal and fetal health.

Vitamin D is not the first vitamin to be implicated as an important factor in whole body health. Eating foods that include a wide variety of vitamins and minerals is essential to cell function and overall well-being. Optimal nutrition, including taking supplements as needed, is the best medicine for many people and is especially important during pregnancy.