News
New study shows higher maternal nicotinamide levels (vitamin B3) are associated with low levels of atopic eczema in their offspring at 12 months of age
28 November 2016
22 November 2013
A new US study reports that low blood vitamin D levels seem to increase the risk of red blood cell deficiency in healthy children.
In the observational study, the concentrations of vitamin D and hemoglobin were measured in the blood samples of 10,410 apparently healthy children and adolescents, aged 1 to 21 years (1). The study results showed that vitamin D levels were consistently lower in children with low hemoglobin levels compared with non-anemic children. Children with mild vitamin D deficiency (levels below 30 nanograms per milliliter) had nearly twice the risk of anemia compared with those who had normal vitamin D levels. Black children had higher rates of anemia compared with white children (14% vs. 2%) and had considerably lower vitamin D levels overall, but their risk of anemia did not increase until their vitamin D levels dropped far lower than those of white children.
The researchers commented that these results are not proof of cause and effect, but rather evidence of a complex interplay between low vitamin D levels and hemoglobin (the oxygen-binding protein in red blood cells). If the findings are confirmed through further research, low vitamin D levels may turn out to be a readily modifiable risk factor for anemia that can be easily treated with supplements. The racial variance seen in the study shows that a pathologically low vitamin D level in some may appear to be adequate in others. This would raise questions about the current one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and supple- mentation.
Anemia, which occurs when the body does not have enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells, is believed to affect one in five children at some point in their lives. Several large scale studies have found severe vitamin D deficiency (at or below 20 ng/ml) in about one-tenth of US children, while nearly 70% have suboptimal levels. Untreated chronic anemia and vitamin D deficiency can have wide-ranging health consequences, including organ damage, skeletal deformities and frequent fractures, and lead to premature osteoporosis in later life. Several mechanisms could account for the link between vitamin D and anemia, including vitamin D's effects on red blood cell production in bone marrow, as well as its ability to regulate immune inflam- mation, a known catalyst of anemia.
28 November 2016
26 September 2019
If you are providing healthcare for a woman who is pregnant, you may get questions about food and nutrition. Pregnancy is an important time for both mom (and baby!) to get good nutrition, but circumstances like food aversions, food cravings, and traveling while pregnant might make getting good nutrition a bit more challenging. The NUTRI-FACTS team sat down with Tori Schmitt, registered dietitian and new mom, to answer popular prenatal nutrition questions.
18 January 2012
One in two women of child-bearing age is not taking folate supplements as recommended by their doctors, which puts their babies’ health at risk.