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A Deficiency in Vitamins in the Womb May Lead to Alzheimer’s Disease

May 29, 2017

The building blocks of life take shape and flourish in a mother’s womb and are dependent on proper nutrition. Deficiency in key nutrients consumed by a mother can lead to serious, long-lasting health problems for her baby.
A recent study examined the connection between vitamin deficiency and the development of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. The condition, in which brain cells and their connections degenerate and die, eventually destroys memory and other important mental functions.

Researchers have found that a marginal deficiency in vitamin A, even early in pregnancy, has detrimental effect on brain development and may facilitate Alzheimer’s disease later in life.1 Brain tissue is programmed in the womb and during infancy, which makes the amount and quality of nutrition that a baby receives from the mother so critical during this time in life.

It is important to note that this study was conducted on mice and that vitamin A deficiency is uncommon in the United States. It’s typically seen in under-developed or low-income regions of the world. For most women, adequate levels of vitamin A can be obtained through diet alone. Pregnant women should not take an excess of vitamin A supplements as it puts them at risk of dangerous side effects.

These findings are further evidence that a well-balanced diet can go a long way for the heath of growing babies. While vitamin A deficiency may be linked to impaired brain function, other nutrients have been shown to help. DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the cerebral cortex of the brain, skin, and retinas. Higher maternal intake of DHA during pregnancy promotes enhanced cognitive development for babies through infancy and childhood.2

Nutritional Support with Prenatal Vitamins with DHA

DHA can be obtained through diet, and seafood is naturally rich in DHA. Salmon or tuna are good options for expecting mothers as they have lower mercury content than mackerel or herring. Women who are pregnant should not consume seafood that is high in mercury content and should limit seafood to two meals per week. Because of the dangers related to high mercury intake, a daily prenatal vitamin with DHA can help mothers reach their nutritional goals outside of diet alone.

The Prenate® Vitamin Family offers a line of prenatal vitamins with DHA. The following Prenate® products contain DHA, as well as a highly absorbable form of folic acid:

Talk to your doctor to see which Prenate® supplement is right for you.

Connect with Prenate®

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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