Nursing Pajamas
All parents to be nurture the dream of having a healthy pregnancy and a child.
Nursing Pajamas
However, the modern environment and diet is deficient in many factors essential to the health of mother and fetus. One of these factors is antioxidants.
The role of antioxidants such as folic acid in preventing birth defects such as spina bifida and cleft palate is well known. Now included in all prenatal vitamin supplements.
However, the role of antioxidants such as glutathione and vitamin E in pregnancy isoften overlooked.
Antioxidants and glutathione status plays an important role in fetal development and growth, maintaining a healthy pregnancy - and even before pregnancy, fertility and conception.
Glutathione is the master antioxidant of the body. It helps to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin shops C and E.
It also protects the mother and the fetus from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.
Many complications of pregnancy andBirth 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 fetus and placenta is crucial. Glutathione (GSH) can control cell differentiation, proliferation and cell death - essential functions in embryonic development.
In the placenta, glutathione detoxifies pollutants before they reach the child's development. Most of the substances or factors that cause birth defects(Teratogenic) are known to exert their embryotoxic effects because they cause oxidative stress.
The human placenta has a large amount of glutathione S-transferase (GST) capable of detoxification or activation of drugs and pharmaceuticals during the critical period of fetal organ development.
Some drugs are known to cause birth defects in the fetus by generating free radicals, and depletion of GSH stores.
In embryonic stages, the fetus issensitive to the toxic and teratogenic effects of chemicals, which is sensitive to the carcinogenic effects during the later stages of the fetus.
Carcinogens administered to the mother can be transferred through the placenta and can cause cancer in the fetus. Many carcinogens are much more active in the fetus than in adults and tend to act as abortifacients and teratogens as well.
The environmental and lifestyle factors are known to cause oxidative stress and lower glutathione levels - resulting inbirth defects, abortion and miscarriage during pregnancy.
Some of the known teratogens (causing birth defects) in pregnancy are:
or radiation
or pesticides and persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
or air pollution
or heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic)
vinyl chloride
or Acryonitrile
or excess of oxygen (hyperoxia)
anti-psychotic or e-epileptic (AED)
or thalidomide
or cigarette smoke
or alcohol (ethanol) consumption
Maternalhealth factors that increase free radicals and cause birth defects are:
or diabetes
or pre-eclampsia
or infection and inflammation
Glutathione and other antioxidants attenuate oxidative stress in pregnant women with inflammation or maternal conditions like diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and fetuses at risk for cystic fibrosis.
Supplementation with glutathione precursors and antioxidants can reduce the incidence of birth defects and protect both mothersand the fetus to be dangerous and even fatal complications of pregnancy.
Glutathione (GSH) also prevents or reduces the oxidative stress that occurs during labor and childbirth.
Perinatal or birth asphyxia / hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) in preterm labor and can lead to cerebral palsy, respiratory distress syndrome, irreversible brain damage and permanent neurological and intellectual disabilities.
Managementprecursor of glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), the pregnant mother partially prevents oxidative stress during the birth of premature babies.
Today, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all pregnant women to take a prenatal vitamin containing antioxidants.
They also recommend eating lots of fruits and vegetables, the best sources of antioxidant protection.
Read a detailed report with references to the role of glutathionepregnancy
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Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of supplementary glutathione. Women who are pregnant or nursing should discontinue all supplements except as indicated by their doctors.
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Copyright © 2004 Priya Shah
Glutathione for a healthy pregnancyNo URL
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