Page 82 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby

A doubleblind, In 1997, an infant was born to a mother demonstrated the benefits of using cod liver oil

placebo who took Warfarin during pregnancy. This drug during pregnancy and lactation.
interferes with the normal clotting mechanism
Rats that are fed cod liver oil during preg-
controlled of the blood by creating an effective vitamin K nancy give birth to offspring that have higher
study showed deficiency. During the early development of the cognitive performance than controls at six
middle third of her face, the cartilage of her sep-
months. If rats are fed a protein-deficient diet
the use of tum calcified; at birth, her nose was a stub. Since during pregnancy, their offspring have disturbed
cod liver oil only twenty percent of the septum protrudes glucose metabolism; if they are also fed cod liver
during from the face, a mere ten percent reduction in its oil, however, the glucose metabolism of their
length can cut the length of the nose in half. She offspring is normal.
42
pregnancy also had cavities and plaques in her spinal cord; The benefits of cod liver oil during pregnan-
and lactation she required oxygen due to respiratory distress cy have been verified in humans as well. Use of

to increase at birth; and she was quadriplegic by twenty cod liver oil during pregnancy is independently
associated with birth weight. A double-blind,
months.
37
43
the child’s IQ This tragic case of severe deficiency illus- placebo- controlled study showed the use of
at the age of trates the essential role of K vitamins in the cod liver oil during pregnancy and lactation to
development of proper facial proportions and the increase the child’s IQ at the age of four years.
four years. much more important and fundamental develop- In this study, the control group received the same
ment of the nervous system. amount of fat-soluble vitamins as the cod liver
Vitamin K has a higher rate of transport oil group, so the effects are most likely due to the
2
38
across the placenta than vitamin K . When DHA.44 In Norway, use of cod liver oil during
1
mothers receive injections of vitamin K , the pregnancy was associated with a 70 percent re-
2
placenta rapidly accumulates it and then releases duced risk of type 1 diabetes. 45
it slowly to the fetus over time. Vitamin K is The Weston A. Price Foundation recom-
39
1
found in leafy greens while vitamin K is found mends 20,000 IU of vitamin A and 2,000 IU of
2
in fermented foods and grass-fed animal fats— vitamin D from cod liver oil during pregnancy.
especially natto, goose liver, cheese, and to a This can be obtained from 1¾ teaspoons of the
lesser extent butter and egg yolks. 40 high-vitamin variety. This amount also supplies
about two grams of omega-3 fatty acids—the
DHA same amount shown in one study to prevent
The fetus, infant and adult can all convert premature delivery. 46
the omega-3 fatty acid found in plant oils, al-
pha- linolenic acid (ALA), into docosohexaenoic BIOTIN
acid (DHA)—but the rate of this conversion is Biotin is a B vitamin but has also been called
no more than one percent at all ages and stages “vitamin H.” Researchers have studied its role
of development. DHA may be necessary for the in pregnancy for decades but only recently have
formation of neurons and for the synthesis of
the important brain lipid phosphatidylserine; it
is also the precursor to an important compound FIGURE 4. BIOTIN CONTENT OF FOODS
that protects neurons when they are assaulted FOOD BIOTIN CONTENT (mcg)
by oxidative stress. The fetus hoards DHA from Liver (3 ounces) 27
the mother and incorporates it into its brain at 1 egg yolk 25
ten times the rate at which it can synthesize it. 41 Baker’s yeast (1 packet) 14
DHA can be obtained primarily from cod Whole wheat bread (1 slice) 6
liver oil and fatty fish and in small amounts from Cheese (1 ounce) 2-6
grass-fed animal fats.
Avocado 6
Salmon (3 ounces) 4
COD LIVER OIL Chicken (3 ounces) 3
The best source of DHA and vitamins A and Pork (3 ounces) 2
D is high-vitamin cod liver oil. Cod liver oil also Artichoke (medium) 2
provides another omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapen- Raspberries (1 cup) 2
taenoic acid (EPA). A number of studies have

80 Wise Traditions