Mothers' Vitamin E Deficiency Linked To Asthma In Kids

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Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 02 Sep 2006 - 8:00 PDT


Children whose mothers had low levels of vitamin E while they were pregnant are five times more likely to develop asthma or wheezing than children's whose mothers had high levels of the vitamin, say scientists from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. The researchers say it is important for pregnant mothers to make sure their vitamin E levels are good.

You can read about this study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

An embryo's lungs are fully developed sixteen weeks after conception. Hence, during those sixteen weeks, a mother's vitamin E levels play an important role. Successful lung development is closely linked to levels of vitamin E.

The team had previously reported a link between low maternal vitamin E levels during pregnancy and wheezing in children aged 2 years. In this study they wanted to see if the link was also present for children aged 5 years.

Team leader, Dr. Graham Devereux, believes vitamin E not only helps lung development, but also influences airway inflammation. After looking at 1,861 pregnant women over a five-year period, and monitoring their children, the team found that kids whose mothers were in the lowest 20% (vitamin E levels) were much more likely to develop asthma and wheezing by the time they were five years old.

Surprisingly, they found that the children's vitamin E levels during their first five years of life did not seem to influence whether or not they developed asthma or wheezing - the influencing factor was the pregnant mother's level.

Deveraux added that pregnant women should focus on good diet. He said "Pregnant women should not take vitamin E just because of this study. They should eat a balanced, healthy diet. It is possible that declining intake of vitamin E in the last 50 years may have contributed to the increase in asthma in children."

Dietary Sources of Vitamin E

-- asparagus
-- avocado
-- cold-pressed vegetable oils (olive, corn, safflower, soybean, cottonseed, canola)
-- corn-oil margarine
-- dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale)
-- eggs
-- greens (beet, collard, mustard, turnip)
-- liver
-- mayonnaise
-- nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts)
-- sunflower seeds
-- sweet potatoes
-- Wheat Germ (richest source)
-- yams

"Low Maternal Vitamin E Intake during Pregnancy Is Associated with Asthma in 5-Year-Old Children"
Graham Devereux, Stephen W. Turner, Leone C. A. Craig, Geraldine McNeill, Sheelagh Martindale, Paul J. Harbour, Peter J. Helms and Anthony Seaton
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 174. pp. 499-507, (2006)
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/174/5/499

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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