| |
| |
|
Pregnancy Information |
|
|
|
Glutathione for a Healthier Pregnancy
All parents-to-be nurture the dream of a healthy pregnancy and baby. But the modern environment and diet is deficient in many factors essential for the health of mother and fetus. One of those factors is antioxidants. The role of antioxidants like folic acid in preventing birth defects like spina bifida and cleft palate is well known. It is now included in all prenatal vitamin supplements. But the role of antioxidants like glutathione and Vitamin E in pregnancy is often overlooked. Antioxidants and glutathione status play an important role in the development and growth of the fetus, maintenance of a healthy pregnancy - and even before pregnancy, in fertility and conception. Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant. It helps to regenerate stores of other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E. It also protects both mother and fetus from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidative stress. Many pregnancy complications and birth defects have been linked to oxidative stress, free radical damage and low glutathione levels in the mother and fetus. The role of glutathione in the development of the foetus and placenta is crucial. Glutathione (GSH) can control cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death - essential functions in the developing embryo. In the placenta, glutathione detoxifies pollutants before they reach the developing child. Most substances or factors which cause birth defects (teratogens) are known to exert their embryotoxic effects because they cause oxidative stress. The human placenta possesses a significant amount of glutathione S-transferase (GST) capable of detoxification or activation of drugs and pharmaceuticals during the critical period of organ development in the fetus. Some drugs are known to cause birth defects in the growing fetus by generating free radicals, and depleting GSH stores. In the early embryonic stages, the fetus is sensitive to the toxic and teratogenic effects of chemicals, whereas it is sensitive to carcinogenic effects during late fetal stages. Carcinogens administered to the mother can be transferred through the placenta and induce cancer in the fetus. Many carcinogens are much more active in the fetus than in adults and they tend to act as abortifacients and teratogens as well. Environmental and lifestyle factors are known to cause oxidative stress and lower glutathione levels - resulting in birth defects, abortion and miscarriages in pregnancy. Some of the known teratogens (causing birth defects) in pregnancy include: o Radiation o Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) o Air pollution o Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic) o Vinyl chloride o Acryonitrile o Excess Oxygen (hyperoxia) o Anti-psychotic and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) o Thalidomide o Cigarette smoke o Alcohol (ethanol) consumption Maternal health factors that increase free radicals and cause birth defects include: o Diabetes o Pre-eclampsia o Infection and Inflammation Glutathione and other antioxidants attenuate oxidative stress in pregnant women with inflammation or maternal conditions like diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and in fetuses at risk for developing cystic fibrosis. Supplementation with glutathione precursors and antioxidants can decrease the incidence of birth defects and protect both mothers and the fetus from the damaging and possibly fatal consequences of pregnancy complications. Glutathione (GSH ) also prevents or minimizes the oxidative stress that occurs during labor and the birth process. Perinatal or birth asphyxia/hypoxia (deprivation of oxygen supply to the brain) in preterm deliveries and labor can lead to cerebral palsy, respiratory distress syndrome, irreversible brain injury, and permanent neurological and intellectual handicaps. Administration of the glutathione precursor, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), to the pregnant mother partially prevents oxidative stress during the birth process in premature infants. Currently, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology advises all pregnant women to take a prenatal vitamin containing antioxidants. In addition, they advise eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, the best sources of antioxidant protection. Read a detailed report with references on the role of glutathione in pregnancy ------------------------ Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of supplementary glutathione. Women who are pregnant or nursing should discontinue all supplements except as directed by their healthcare providers. ------------------------ Copyright © 2004 Priya Shah _____________________________________________ About the author:
MORE RESOURCES:
Pregnancy - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Can I Make Sure Im Exercising Safely During My Pregnancy? Unless your practitioner gives you specific restrictions or instructions, you should keep active during pregnancy. This may be as simple as walking every day to get your heart rate moving, or it may be a complete fitness program designed to be safe during pregnancy. Maintaining Balance During Your Pregnancy Pregnancy is a beautiful time. And it is also a time for out-of-control hormones which can get a little stressful and chaotic. The Truth About Labor and Childbirth Labor and childbirth was an amazing, positive experience for me, both times. I am very fortunate, I know. Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy - Do You Know These Very Early Pregnancy Signs? Very early symptoms of pregnancy -- what are they? If asked, most women remember their very early pregnancy signs if they have been pregnant before. Some women can detect the moment they begin ovulating, while many women cannot tell when or if they have ovulated. Very Early Signs of Pregnancy - Do You Know the 10 Pregnancy Signs? Very early signs of pregnancy - are there 10 pregnancy signs? Yes, there are signs that indicate very early that you are pregnant. Some women will experience one or two of them, others will have several of the very early signs of pregnancy. The Dos and Donts of Pregnancy With so many people giving their opinion on what to do and what not to do during pregnancy, it becomes hard to determine what is fact and what is fiction. Below is a list of some of the more important factors to consider in regards to pregnancy do's and dont's. So You Think You're Pregnant? A Brief Discussion Of Common Pregnancy Symptoms A baby begins life even before he is born - from conception until the uterus finally pushes him out of his mother's body. This is the phenomenon we call pregnancy. Exercising After Pregnancy Generally most women can begin a formal exercise program within 6 weeks of giving birth, though this time frame might be slightly longer for some women, including those recovering from a C-section. Most women recovering from a C-section will be able to exercise after there incision has healed and their doctor has cleared them for exercise. How To Avoid Post Partum Depression New mothers sometimes experience "postpartum blues." This is understandable. Postpartum Depression - Recognizing The Signs In some cases, bringing home your brand new baby doesn't bring happy thoughts like the ones you were expecting. If this is the case, you may be suffering from postpartum depression. 10 Pregnancy Risk Factors that Every Pregnant Woman Should be Aware of Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a healthy child, some which are beyond your control and others that are within your control. Here are ten of the most common pregnancy risk factors that can be controlled or influenced:Smoking - Smoking is not only bad for you, but bad for your baby as well. Your Role as an Expectant Father Quite often expectant fathers get bent out of shape over what they should be doing during the pregnancy. The pregnant woman is often the focus of all attention. How To Avoid Swelling When Pregnant Edema, otherwise known as swelling, will affect almost all women at some point during their pregnancy. Swelling or Edema is most often the result of excessive levels of hormones coursing through your body. How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy Weight control is a prevalent concern for many women after pregnancy. Although common during pregnancy, weight gain is difficult for many women to handle emotionally. Alcohol And Pregnancy If you have been drinking up until the point when you become pregnant or smoking it is also vital that you stop doing so immediately. Many women worry that they consumed a few alcoholic drinks prior to learning they were pregnant. You Might Be Pregnant If Your breasts are now twice their normal size.One of the early trademarks of pregnancy are sensitive, sore breasts. Abortions After Fetal Viability Abortion is without a doubt one of the hottest and most politically divisive topics, as at least one in five of all UK women will have an abortion at some stage in their lives. This document will attempt to explore the following areas of abortion and termination:[1] The facts concerning termination of pregnancy. The Developing Child We know the fetus is experiencing whatever is going on with the mother. This is the good news or the bad news as the case may be. Smoking During Pregnancy If you have been drinking up until the point when you become pregnant or smoking it is also vital that you stop doing so immediately. Many women worry that they consumed a few alcoholic drinks prior to learning they were pregnant. Planning a Healthy Pregnancy Looking for healthy lifestyle pregnancy information? Here are some steps for planning a pregnancy with your healthy lifestyle in mind.The most important step in planning for a healthy pregnancy is getting you healthy.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
