Spina bifida

Email this page to a friend

Want news about Spina bifida and more e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

Low maternal dietary intakes of iron, magnesium, and niacin are associated with spina bifida in the offspring. /. Nutr. 134, 1516-1522. 29. Missmer, S. A., Suarez, L., Felkner, M., Wang, D., Merrill, A. H., Jr, Rothman, K. J., and Hendricks, K. A. (2006). Exposure to fumonisins and the occurrence of neural tube defects along the Texas-Mexico border. Environ. Health Perspect. 114(2), 237-241. 30. Suarez, L., Hendricks, K., Cooper, S. P., Sweeney, A. M., Hardy, R. J., and Larsen, R. D. (2003). Maternal serum B-12 levels and risk for neural tube defects in a Texas-Mexico border population. Ann.

Before You Take that Pill: Why the Drug Industry May Be Bad for Your Health J. Douglas Bremner See book keywords and concepts

For them, taking dietary folate before they get pregnant will prevent spina bifida in their offspring (a tragic condition involving abnormality of the spinal cord that leads to death and/or neurological impairment of the infant). Given the small risk that you may be one of these women I recommend taking folate before yon conceive (the only time I will tell you to take vitamins or supplements). STEROIDS Several steroids are sold over the counter as supplements, although they probably should be classified as drugs because they have potentially dangerous side effects.

FOLIC ACID The most practical reason for women of childbearing age to take multivitamins with folic acid supplements is the prevention of neural tube-related birth defects like spina bifida. Prevention of neural-tube birth defects is accomplished with 400 meg of folic acid daily, obtained from food and/or vitamin supplements. Foods high in folate include leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach as well as asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and lentils.

The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Such supplementation could protect against the formation of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) during the time between conception and when pregnancy is discovered. The requirement for the B vitamin folic acid doubles during pregnancy, to 800 meg per day from all sources.26 Deficiencies of folic acid during pregnancy have been linked to low birth weight27 and to an increased incidence of neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida) in infants.

Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease Dr. Sharon Moalem See book keywords and concepts

When a pregnant woman has too little folic acid, the fetus is at significantly higher risk for serious birth defects, including spina bifida, a deformation of the spinal cord that often causes paralysis. And as we said, ultraviolet light destroys folic acid in the body. In the mid-1990s an Argentinian pediatrician reported that three healthy women all gave birth to children who had neural tube defects after using indoor tanning beds during their pregnancies. Coincidence? Probably not. Pregnancy isn't the only time folate is important, of course.

Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 Bottom Line Health See book keywords and concepts

A daily supplement of 400 micrograms (meg) of folic acid, a vitamin crucial for proper cell growth, can dramatically reduce birth defects of the brain and spine, such as spina bifida. Such problems occur in approximately 3,000 pregnancies every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Getting that much folic acid isn't difficult—you can take a single vitamin pill or you can get it from folate-rich foods, such as leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits, or from folate-fortified foods, including enriched breads and cereals.

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

When will we eliminate folic acid-preventable spina bifida? Epidemiology 1(3), 367-368. 39. National Vital Statistics Reports. (2006). Vol. 55, No. 1, September 29, 2006. 40. Anderson, D. M. (1999). Nutrition for premature infants. In "Handbook of Pediatric Nutrition" (P. Q. Samour, K. K. Helm, and C. E. Lang, Eds.), 2nd ed., pp. 43-63. Aspen, Gaithers-burg, MD. 41. Wilson-Costello, D., Friedman, H., Minich, N., Fanaroff, A. A., and Hack, M. (2005). Improved survival rates with increased neurodevelopmental disability for extremely low birth weight infants in the 1990s.

Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease Dr. Sharon Moalem See book keywords and concepts

And there's been a corresponding decrease in diseases, such as spina bifida, that are related to folic acid deficiency in pregnant women. That's a wonderful thing—but it may not be the whole story. Our understanding of epigenetics is so immature we have to be wary about unintended consequences. We just don't know what other genes may be influenced by pumping methyl donors into the food supply, and we probably won't know for years.

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

Folate insufficiency, mentioned earlier in the etiology of spina bifida and cleft lip and palate, has also been implicated in the etiology of limb and heart abnormalities and Down syndrome [36]. Severe zinc deficiency has been linked to intrauterine growth retardation and teratogenesis; mild to moderate deficiency has been associated with congenital malformations, LBW, and preterm delivery [37].

Meanwhile, a group of investigators in the Netherlands has reported significantly lower dietary intake of iron, magnesium, niacin, fiber, plant protein, and polysaccharides in mothers of infants with spina bifida in = 106) compared to controls in = 181) independent of periconceptional folic acid use [28]. They also found increased risk related to dietary intake of mono- and disac-charides, which they suggest supports the importance of optimal carbohydrate intake during neural tube formation.

CHKA and PCYT1A gene polymorphisms, choline intake and spina bifida risk in a California population. BMC Med. 4, p.36. 67. Albright, C. D., Friedrich, C. B., Brown, E. C, Mar, M. H., and Zeisel, S. H. (1999). Maternal dietary choline availability alters mitosis, apoptosis and the localization of TOAD-64 protein in the developing fetal rat septum. Brain Res. Dev. Brain Res. 115, 123-129. 68. Craciunescu, C. N., Albright, C. D., Mar, M. H., Song, J., and Zeisel, S. H. (2003). Choline availability during embryonic development alters progenitor cell mitosis in developing mouse hippocampus. J.

PDR for Herbal Medicines, Fourth Edition Thomson Healthcare, Inc. See book keywords and concepts

Anon: Use of folic acid for prevention of spina bifida and other neural tube defects: 1983-1991. MMWR; 4O(30):513-516. 1991 Anon: Vitamin supplements. Med Lett Drugs Ther; 27(693):66-68. 1985 Backman N, Holm A-K, Hanstrom L et al: Folate treatment of diphenylhydantoin-induced gingival hyperplasia. Scand J Dent Res; 97(3):222-232. 1989 Bailey LB: Evaluation of a new recommended dietary allowance for folate. J Am Diet Assoc; 92(4):463-468, 471. 1992 Bazzano LA, Reynolds K, Holder KN, He J.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC): Revised statement on the relationship between dietary folic acid and neural tube defects such as spina bifida. J Paediatr Child Health; 30:476-477. 1994 Nguyen TT, Dyer DL Dunning DD et al: Human intestinal folate transport: cloning, expression, and distribution of complementary RNA. Gastroenterology; 112(3):783-791. 1997 Omenn GS, Beresford SAA, Motulsky AG: Preventing coronary heart disease: B vitamins and homocysteine. Circulation; 97(5):421-424.

Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness Tori Hudson, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Nutrients such as folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 have been correlated with prevention of the more common pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, preterm delivery, low infant birth weight, and neural tube defects (such as spina bifida and anencephaly).8 Supplementation with calcium—the only mineral whose requirement doubles during pregnancy9— has been positively correlated with prevention of pregnancy hypertension,10 preeclampsia,11, 12 preterm delivery,13 and low birth weight,14 as well as puerperal psychosis (postpartum depression).

Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

Lest we ignore the overall diet, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that women who ate large amounts of dietary sugars (such as sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup), other highly refined carbohydrates, and potatoes had a higher risk of delivering infants with spina bifida and other neural-tube defects. Such a diet is typically low in B vitamins, quality protein, and vegetables. Down Syndrome In the 1950s Dr. Henry Turkel began developing a regimen for treating some of the genetic consequences of Down syndrome.

The Seven Laws of Nutrition Mike Adams See book keywords and concepts

And yes, there are some genetic disorders, such as having double-Y chromosomes or being born with spina bifida, which is caused by a nutritional deficiency during pregnancy. But I am talking about chronic diseases here that afflict adults over time such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, mental depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and so on. None of these diseases are caused by you having bad genes. In fact, unless you were born with some kind of radical birth defect, you have the genetic code necessary to be a healthy, vibrant human being. Now, how do I know that?

Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

In addition, animal studies have clearly shown that an elevated level of homocysteine (the result of low B-vitamin levels) is by itself toxic to embryos, causing spina bifida and other neural-tube defects. Today the March of Dimes, known for its antipolio campaign of the 1950s, has become a leading advocate of folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy. Down Syndrome Although the role of poor maternal nutrition in the development of Down syndrome has not been delineated, research on other types of birth defects points to its being a critical factor.

Naturopathic Nutrition: A Guide to Nutrient-rich Food & Nutritional Supplements for Optimum Health Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH See book keywords and concepts

Therapeutic Uses Neural Tube Defects: It has been proven that women will give birth to babies with spina bifida and similar neural tube defects (NTDs) much less frequently if they take supplemental folic acid, 1 mg. We generally recommend 5 mg daily. Dr Smithells in 1981 showed that giving pregnant women extra folic acid decreased the incidence of NTDs. Before that he had measured the red cell folate and white cell vitamin C levels of mothers who had babies with NTDs and found they were lower in both. This finding created tremendous interest in using orthomolecular doses of folic acid.

The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D. See book keywords and concepts

Folic acid is critical to the development of the nervous system of the fetus and deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, including neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Folic acid, vitamin B12, and betaine also function to reduce body concentrations of homocysteine, an intermediate in the conversion of the amino acid methionine to cysteine. A higher-than-average homocysteine level has been implicated in a variety of conditions, including atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.

Natural Medicine, Optimal Wellness: The Patient's Guide to Health and Healing Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

My aunt had two children with spina bifida," she said. "They both died of complications of their problems. John and I've been married for 7 years, and we're ready to have our first child. We don't want to have that happen to our child! I read 2 or 3 years ago that the Public Health Service concluded that folic acid prevents birth defects. When I talked to my mother about it, she gave me a copy of your 1984 book. You had a whole chapter in there about preventing birth defects with folic acid!" "Government 'authorities' are usually the last to know," I replied.

Food Plants of the World: An illustrated guide Ben-Erik van Wyk See book keywords and concepts

Deficiencies during pregnancy have been linked to birth defects such as spina bifida. The RDA is 200 ug and the upper safe limit is considered to be 1 000 ug. Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid, PGA) Chemical structure of folic acid (the main compound of folate) Niacin Niacin is the generic term used for two different compounds, namely nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which both have the same activity. Niacin can be formed in the human body from the amino acid tryptophan. Cereals (especially whole grains) are a good source of preformed niacin. The RDA is 18 mg.

John Hammell of International Advocates for Health Freedom discusses health freedom under siege; Part 2 Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

I said, "You all are pissing me off because you are not allowing mothers that are pregnant to learn about folic acid, so they are giving birth to children that have spina bifida. This is a horrible birth defect that causes them to be paralyzed for the rest of their lives and you genocidal killers have to stop it." I was getting in their face. Then after I said all this stuff, I left the building, and this intelligence officer from the Washington Capitol Police came up to me, and this woman who had been sitting there to monitor what I said, she came up to me and thanked me. She had kids.

Fundamentals of Naturopathic Endocrinology Michael Friedman, ND See book keywords and concepts

Other diseases designated as associated with herbicides include chloracne (a skin condition), soft tissue sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancers, prostate cancer, and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. spina bifida in the children of veterans is also considered grounds for compensation from the Agent Orange Act. Agent Orange is not only found in tissues of soldiers from the Vietnam war, but, according to an EPA study in 1982, it is also found in the tissue of 76% of the general American public.

Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini Gabriel Cousens, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Zinc deficiency has an association with different types of birth defects such as Down's syndrome, spina bifida, and clubbed feet. Zinc deficiency is also associated with Alzheimer's, paranoia, diabetes, PMS, depression, infertility, herpes, acne, obesity, alcoholism, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, hair loss, prostate cancer, and various eye difficulties, including cataracts. Zinc deficiency can cause slow healing. Zinc deficiency can come from high alcohol consumption.

Transdermal Magnesium Therapy Mark Sircus See book keywords and concepts

FDA's censorship contributed to a preventable 10,000 neural tube defect births. Between 1994 to 2000, FDA prohibited companies that sell omega-3 fatty acids from telling Americans that those fatty acids found in fish oil could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 50%. FDA's censorship contributed to a preventable 1.8 million sudden death heart attacks.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

This was an attempt to achieve an across-the-board reduction in neural-tube birth defects such as spina bifida. Since the program started, there has also been a decline in stroke-related deaths that appears to be related. Researchers attribute this decline to the reduction of serum homocysteine levels in the population as a whole. Many experts still recommend that every woman of childbearing age take a folate supplement daily as a matter of course. Folate works best when combined with vitamin B12 and vitamin C. A sore, red tongue is one sign of folate deficiency.

Folic acid deficiency is linked to such neurologic birth defects as spina bifida and anencephaly. To prevent these disorders, this B vitamin must be present in the body during the first six weeks following conception, a crucial early phase in fetal neurological development. Since most women do not know they have conceived until several weeks afterward, the best way to prevent these birth defects is for women who are planning to become pregnant to have an adequate supply of this nutrient at all times.

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

Including children who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight, considered to be at high risk for developing a special health care need, as well as children with some common chronic health concerns (e.g., asthma) raises the overall prevalence to an estimated 30% [3]. As many as 40% to 60% of children with special health care needs are at risk for one or more problems with nutritional status, ranging from slow growth and poor feeding to more severe gastrointestinal problems and metabolic disorders [4] (also Baer and Herman, 1997, unpublished data).

Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

Nerve damage, paralysis of the lower body, and a lack of bladder control are common consequences of spina bifida. Other types of neural-tube defects include encephalocele, in which the brain protrudes through the skull, and anencephaly, the complete absence of the brain and spinal column. Down Syndrome This common genetic disorder is characterized by the existence of a third copy of the twenty-first chromosome (and all of the genes normally found on that chromosome).

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Studies have shown that a daily intake of 400 micrograms of folate in early pregnancy may prevent the vast majority of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. It may also help to prevent premature birth. To be effective, this regimen must begin before conception and continue for at least the first three months of pregnancy; if a woman waits until she knows she is pregnant, it may be too late, because critical events in fetal development occur during the first six weeks of pregnancy—before many women know that they have conceived.

page 1 of 4 | Next ->

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalNews.com/np/index.html

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of this NaturalNews Naturalpedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.