Slashdot Mirror
Vitamin B3 Supplement Can Prevent Miscarriages and Birth Defects, Says Study (news.com.au)
brindafella writes: The landmark finding about vitamin B3, made by the Victor Chang Institute in Sydney, Australia, has been described as "the most important discovery for pregnant women since folate." The study has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. From News.com.au: "The historic discovery, believed to be among Australia's greatest ever medical achievements, is expected to forever change the way pregnant women are cared for around the globe. Every year 7.9 million babies are born with a birth defect worldwide and one in four pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in Australia. In the vast majority of cases the cause of these problems has remained a mystery. Until now. Professor Sally Dunwoodie from the Victor Chang Institute has identified a major cause of miscarriages as well as heart, spinal, kidney and cleft palate problems in newborn babies. The landmark study found that a deficiency in a vital molecule, known as NAD, prevents a baby's organs from developing correctly in the womb. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is one of the most important molecules in all living cells. NAD synthesis is essential for energy production, DNA repair and cell communication. Disrupting its production causes a NAD deficiency. The Victor Chang researchers have found this deficiency is particularly harmful during a pregnancy as it cripples an embryo when it is forming. At the heart of the paramount discovery is the dietary supplement vitamin B3, also known as niacin. Scientists at the Victor Chang Institute have discovered how to prevent miscarriages and birth defects by simply boosting levels of the nutrient during pregnancy."
This is massive overstatement and we need to wait for some human evidence.
http://theconversation.com/pregnant-women-shouldnt-start-taking-vitamin-b3-just-yet-reports-it-prevents-miscarriage-and-birth-defects-are-overblown-82315
It is a massive overstatement to say that birth defects are going to be prevented. Did anyone here read the article? I did. This is still in the realm of science and optimism and hypothesis. 1. researchers looked at genes in human family members of those with multiple congenital anomalies, found some genetic stuff, speculated genetic issues could have caused birth defects (and maybe miscarriages) and could be fixed by increased NAD (Niacin, Vit B3) 2. researches put the speculated problematic genes with CRISPR technology into mice. 3. supplementing mice with NAD (Niacin, a.k.a. B3) reduced birth defects That's it. There are a lot of hypotheses and assumptions here, and not a single human miscarriage or birth defect has been prevented yet. This article is great for forming hypotheses like "we oughtta test women/couples for these genes" or "we oughtta give pregnant women vit B3 supplements". But until we actually do these medical studies testing these ideas, we know nothing and have not advanced human health. -- Josh (yes, I am a doctor and I practice obstetrics and I'm not recommending any additional supplementation with Vit B3 until we have outcomes evidence in humans)