Nutrition
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Introduction
This current page is a start page for your exploration of topics related to nutrition and development.
While there are many sites and information available concerning postnatal nutrition, prenatally research has mainly focussed on developmental effects of specific deficiencies (folate and iodine) and the teratogenic effects of retinoic acid.
See also the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) publication NHMRC - Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes.[1] "The Nutrient Reference Values outline the levels of intake of essential nutrients considered to be adequate to meet the known nutritional needs of practically all healthy people for prevention of deficiency states. The document can be used by health professionals to assess the likelihood of inadequate intake in individuals or groups of people." Some text on this current page is modified from this report.
In Australia and New Zealand
Before mandatory folic acid fortification was introduced:
- mean dietary folic acid intakes for women aged 16–44 years (the target population) in Australia was 108 micrograms (μg) of folic acid per day and in New Zealand was 62 μg of folic acid per day, well below the recommended 400 μg per day.
- there were 149 pregnancies affected by NTDs in 2005 in Australia (rate of 13.3 per 10,000 births) in the three states that provide the most accurate baseline of NTD incidence (South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria), and 63 pregnancies affected by NTDs in 2003 in New Zealand (rate of 11.2 per 10,000 births).
Before mandatory iodine fortification was introduced:
- large proportions of the Australian and New Zealand population had inadequate iodine intakes.
- national surveys measuring median urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) in schoolchildren, an indicator of overall population status, confirmed mild iodine deficiency in both countries.
- the concentration was 96 μg per litre in Australia, and 66 μg per litre in New Zealand, less than the 100–200 μg per litre considered optimal.
Some Recent Findings
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Folic Acid
In 2001, the Australian estimated birth prevalence of neural tube defects was 0.5 per 1,000 births (National Perinatal Statistics Unit). Low maternal dietary folic acid (folate) has been shown to be associated with the development of neural tube defects.
In the U.S.A. the Food and Drug Administration in 1996 authorized that all enriched cereal grain products be fortified with folic acid, with optional fortification beginning in March 1996 and mandatory fortification in January 1998.
Iodine
Vitaminsvitamin ARetinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol).
vitamin BEight separate water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Folic acid or vitamin B9 (folacin) and folate (naturally occurring form) are an important dietary requirement for normal neural development. Low levels have been show associated with neural tube defects including spina bifida. vitamin CAscorbic acid (vitamin C) is necessary for the formation of collagen, reducing free radicals, and aiding in iron absorption. Scurvy is a disease of dietary ascorbic acid deficiency that is very uncommon today, except in economically disadvantaged populations with poor nutrition. Occurance in children is very rare and can lead to musculoskeletal abnormalities, and has also been seen in neurologic illness.[3] vitamin DVitamin D is important Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D), the most commonly used index of vitamin D status, is converted to the active hormone 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]2D), which, operating through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The vitamin D receptor belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. USA Institute of Medicine expert committee "calcium requirements varied with age, from 700 mg a day for children aged 1-3 years up to 1200 mg a day for women aged 51 to 70 and 1300 mg a day for teenagers and pregnant and lactating women."
vitamin E |
vitamin KA generic term for derivatives of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone that have coagulation activity. Daily requirement for vitamin K is about 1 µg/kg. In newborns vitamin K nutrition is at risk. ProteinThere are normally 20 amino acids found in proteins, some of which can be made by the body while nine are essential (unable to synthesise from simpler molecules) in the diet. Essential amino acids
Cysteine and tyrosine can partly replace methionine and phenylalanine. Fats
Carbohydrates
Fibre
Water
References
Reviews<pubmed>21291560</pubmed> ArticlesSearch PubmedTerms
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Glossary Links
Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 21) Embryology Nutrition. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Nutrition
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