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‘Breakthrough’ as Scientists Discover Vitamin Can Cut Birth Defects and Miscarriages

  • August 13, 2017

In a mouse study hailed as “one of the most significant discoveries in pregnancy research,” vitamin B3, aka niacin, has been found to completely prevent miscarriages and birth defects, Sky News reports. Vitamin B3 is naturally found in meat and vegetables. Bridged to humans, researchers believe this discovery has huge potential for pregnant women. Currently, 1 in 5 pregnant women suffer from a miscarriage and 7.9 million babies are born with serious birth defects worldwide.

This is exciting news as it means you may only need to optimize your B3 levels through a good diet, or supplementation if necessary, to achieve a healthier pregnancy. Added to other research on vitamin D, which confirmed that 40 to 60 percent of preterm births are prevented by raising pregnant women’s vitamin D to a level of 40 ng/mL, and you have a great prescription for a very successful pregnancy and healthy child.

Despite being simple and inexpensive to address, vitamin D deficiency is epidemic around the world. It's been estimated that if vitamin D levels were raised among the general population, it could prevent chronic diseases that claim nearly a million lives throughout the world each year. Raising vitamin D levels among pregnant women is of particular concern, as insufficiency affects both the mother and her developing child.

Some top super foods to eat while you’re pregnant include organic, free-range eggs — which are a phenomenal source of protein, fat and other nutrients, including choline and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin — wild-caught Alaskan or sockeye salmon and sardines; full-fat grass fed beef and dairy; pasture-raised chicken; sweet potatoes; broccoli and leafy greens; berries; and avocados.