Page 24 - Spring2020
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Gestational       and a predisposition to respiratory diseases. Hu-  A is essential for reproduction, and deficiencies
               vitamin A      man lung development starts in the fifth week  and excesses may result in embryonic loss
                              of gestation and continues during the first few  and/or congenital defects. Retinoids [vitamin
              deficiency      years.                                    A] are recognized as important regulators of
              in animals         In the gut, vitamin A deficiency during  vertebrate development, cell differentiation and
            reduces the       gestation results in the production of fewer villi,  tissue function. Previous studies, performed
                              which can presage digestive problems through-
                                                                        both in vivo and in vitro, indicate that retinoids
                beta cell     out life.                                 influence several reproductive events, including
            mass of the          Embryonic vitamin A deficiency causes  follicular development, oocyte maturation and
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         offspring. The       “grossly thinned ventricular wall with concur-  early embryonic development.”
                              rent defects in ventricular septation [in hearts of
                                                                           “The question about the safety of vitamin
          beta cells are      newborn mice].”  The prevalence of this type  A use in pregnancy remains a complex and
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              where we        of defect is increasing—today afflicting about 1  unresolved issue, even though it is recognized
          make insulin.       percent of all babies. It often requires surgery to  that vitamin A plays an important role in normal
                              correct the ventricular septal defect—basically  embryonic growth and development.”
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                              a hole in the heart. The other thing that you see     “Of  particular  concern  are  [pregnant
                              is premature babies having bronchopulmonary  women] in the latter half of pregnancy when
                              dysplasia, where the lungs don’t work well and  nutritional demands are high…and the risk of
                              the baby needs oxygen. This also is associated  developing night blindness and other adverse
                              with vitamin A deficiency.                health outcomes is greatest. . .”
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                                 After birth, babies must get vitamin A from     Liver is an ideal food for pregnant women.
                              breastmilk as they are generally born with low  No birth defects have been reported with higher
                              liver stores. Colostrum will be rich in vitamin A  intakes of vitamin A from food sources. It is
                              only if the mother has good intake. The mom’s  really important to know that there has never
                              colostrum is supposed to be a rich shot of nu-  been a report of fetal malformation or birth
                              trients, and it is supposed to be full of vitamin  defect from a woman eating liver. Now with that
                              A. If that mom doesn’t have it then neither does  said, I wouldn’t encourage women to eat liver
                              the colostrum.                            daily but only once a week. Four to six ounces is
                                 After weaning, the infant is at greater risk  plenty. Vitamin A from liver produces a smaller
                              of vitamin A deficiency. If the baby is born to a  and delayed rise in serum retinol levels versus
                              mother with low vitamin A, then it is only going  vitamin A from retinyl esters. 27
                              to get worse. Unfortunately, we don’t know how     For women who refuse to eat liver or other
                              this will affect the baby. We do know that the  vitamin A-rich foods, the evidence suggests
                              secretory IgA in the gut needs vitamin A.   that a low-dose vitamin A supplement may be
                                 They used to give mothers in developing  protective against birth defects.  An intake of
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                              countries 200,000 IU of vitamin A right after  2,500-5,000 IU per day will support a healthy
                              birth, but they no longer do that. Supplementa-  pregnancy in a woman who has been following
                              tion of lactating women with β-carotene has  an overall nourishing diet prior to conception. 29
                              relatively little effect on breastmilk vitamin A  Women need vitamin A early in pregnancy, not
                              content. In infants of mothers supplemented with  just toward the end, when they are getting ready
                              200,000 IU true vitamin A after birth, there was  to lactate.
                              a significantly lower incidence of respiratory     Vitamin A and D together are best; the
                              tract infections and fever.               combination is more effective at supporting
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                                 Vitamin A deficiency can lead to complete  robust immunity and reduces any potential tox-
                              lactation failure in animals. Could this be a rea-  icity of either one at higher intakes. In addition,
                              son why some mothers are not able to produce  vitamin K  (from food) enhances the protective
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                              enough or any milk?                       actions of A and D.
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                                 In spite of the Rothman study, a number of
                              researchers have expressed concern about vita-  WIDESPREAD DEFICIENCY
                              min A deficiency in pregnant women. “Vitamin     In my practice I work with regular people,
         24                                       Wise Traditions                                 SPRING 2020
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