One of the vital functions of B vitamins is to help us turn food into energy. However, as recent research shows, eating a range of foods rich in B vitamins can have substantial benefits, throughout our life, from the cradle to a healthy old age. Lisa Patient writes
Way back in 1970 the first study to conclusively confirm the link between folate (vitamin B9) deficiency and neural-tube defects such as spin a bifida was published. This led to the now widespread practice of folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy. However, emerging research points to lesser-known benefits of some of the other B vitamins during pregnancy.
Pregnancy
One such vitamin is vitamin B3, known as niacin, and found in fish, beans, nuts and mushrooms. An Australian study on mice found that higher intake of B3 may reduce incidence of miscarriages and birth defects in specific cases. The research followed observations of major birth defects in human babies with a specific genetic mutation that affects the body’s ability to make a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). 1 The team’s subsequent studies on mice discovered that added B3 in the diet during gestation prevented the malformations in offspring. However, more human studies would be needed.
In the UK, scientists at the University of Southampton have also studied the impact of vitamin B3 during pregnancy, and found that women with a higher blood level of a particular type of B3 called nicotinamide (one of the components of NAD), were less likely to have babies with eczema than those with lower levels. 2
While more research is needed to determine the safe dosage and any possible side effects of B3 during pregnancy, current advice remains to eat foods rich in B vitamins, and to take multivitamins especially formulated for pregnancy.
This story is from the Winter 2017/18 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Winter 2017/18 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
