{"id":890,"date":"2013-04-30T14:05:41","date_gmt":"2013-04-30T18:05:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mynutriguide.com\/?p=890"},"modified":"2019-12-26T12:43:33","modified_gmt":"2019-12-26T17:43:33","slug":"spina-bifida-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/spina-bifida-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Spina Bifida\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_5337\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/Spina_bifida_drawing1.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5337\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5337\" src=\"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/Spina_bifida_drawing1.gif\" alt=\"Drawing showing the spinal defect in spina bifida.\" width=\"204\" height=\"261\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5337\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drawing showing the spinal defect in spina bifida.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>What Is Spina Bifida?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"dropcap\">S<\/span>pina bifida is a congenital defect of neural tube closure and among the commonest and most severe disorders of the fetus and newborn.<a href=\"#footnote_1_890\" id=\"identifier_1_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Copp AJ, Greene ND. Genetics and development of neural tube defects. J Pathol. 2010 Jan;220(2):217-30. doi: 10.1002\/path.2643.\">1<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Spina bifida is a defect in the walls of the spinal canal in the lumbar section (waist level) of the spine in which the backbone and spinal canal fail to close before birth.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Normally, during the first month of a pregnancy, the two sides of the spine join together to cover the spinal cord, spinal nerves and meninges. Meninges are tissues that cover the spinal cord. Spina bifida refers to any birth defect involving incomplete closure of the spine.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Q<\/strong>: What are the\u00a0birth defects involving incomplete closure of the spine?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>A<\/strong>: Myelomeningocele is the most common type of spina bifida. It is a neural tube defect in which the bones of the spine do not completely form, resulting in an incomplete spinal canal. This causes the spinal cord and meninges (the tissues covering the spinal cord) to stick out of the child&#8217;s back. Myelomeningocele may affect as many as 1 out of every 800 infants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The rest of spina bifida cases are most commonly of these two types:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet black\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Spina bifida occulta, a condition in which the bones of the spine do not close but the spinal cord and meninges remain in place and skin usually covers the defect.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Meningoceles, a condition where the tissue covering the spinal cord sticks out of the spinal defect but the spinal cord remains in place.<a href=\"#footnote_2_890\" id=\"identifier_2_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmedhealth\/PMH0002525\/\">2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Spina bifida in the unborn results from deficiency of folic acid and\/or vitamin B12 in the mother.<a href=\"#footnote_3_890\" id=\"identifier_3_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification.&nbsp;Pediatrics.&nbsp;2009 Mar;123(3):917-23. doi: 10.1542\/peds.2008-1173.\">3<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Intervention trials have demonstrated conclusively that oral ingestion of extra folic acid can prevent the majority of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTDs). Data from these studies offer conclusive evidence that the intake of 400 \u03bcg\/day folic acid provides this benefit.<a href=\"#footnote_4_890\" id=\"identifier_4_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Scott J. Folic acid consumption throughout pregnancy: differentiation between trimesters. Ann Nutr Metab. 2011;59(1):46-9. doi: 10.1159\/000332127. Epub 2011 Nov 25.\nThe American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of&nbsp;folic acid&nbsp;daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional&nbsp;folic acid&nbsp;supplementation can prevent 50% or more of NTDs such as&nbsp;spina bifida&nbsp;and anencephaly. ((Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics. Pediatrics. 1999 Aug;104(2 Pt 1):325-7.\">4<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What Is Spina Bifida In Celiac Disease and\/or Gluten Sensitivity?<\/h2>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_check red\">\n<li>Spina bifida is a symptom of celiac disease and an uncommon presenting feature of untreated celiac disease in the mother due to malabsorption of folic acid and\/or vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Prevalent is Spina Bifida In Celiac Disease and\/or Gluten Sensitivity?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">No adequate studies are available on the rate of birth defects in the progeny of celiac disease affected women.<a href=\"#footnote_5_890\" id=\"identifier_5_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Stazi AV, Mantovani A. A risk factor for female fertility and pregnancy: celiac disease. Gynecologica endocrinology: the Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. Dec 2000;14(6):454-63.\">5<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What Are The Symptoms Of Spina Bifida?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Spina bifida is marked by these symptoms in a newborn:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet red\">\n<li>Weakness of the hips, legs, or feet.<\/li>\n<li>Urinary incontinence.<\/li>\n<li>Partial to total loss of feeling in saddle (lower back) or limb.<\/li>\n<li>Partial or complete paralysis of the legs.<\/li>\n<li>Gait (walking) disturbances.<\/li>\n<li>Structural changes in the pelvis.<\/li>\n<li>There may be abnormalities of the feet or legs such as clubfoot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Does Spina Bifida Develop In Celiac Disease and\/or Gluten Sensitivity ?<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"cp_check red\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Spina bifida results from celiac disease induced malabsorption and folic acid deficiency in the mother.\u00a0Folic acid is essential for organogenesis (organ production) in the unborn<a href=\"#footnote_6_890\" id=\"identifier_6_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Stazi AV, Mantovani A. A risk factor for female fertility and pregnancy: celiac disease. Gynecologica endocrinology: the Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology. Dec 2000;14(6):454-63.\">6<\/a> although\u00a0the embryonic mechanism of\u00a0folate\u00a0action remains unclear.<a href=\"#footnote_7_890\" id=\"identifier_7_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Copp AJ, Greene ND. Genetics and development of neural tube defects. J Pathol. 2010 Jan;220(2):217-30. doi: 10.1002\/path.2643.\">7<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Vitamin B12 deficiency\u00a0with or without folic acid deficiency in the mother\u00a0increases the risk spina bifida in the newborn.<a href=\"#footnote_3_890\" id=\"identifier_8_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification.&nbsp;Pediatrics.&nbsp;2009 Mar;123(3):917-23. doi: 10.1542\/peds.2008-1173.\">3<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Iron deficiency does not cause spina bifida but may contribute to the increased risk.<a href=\"#footnote_8_890\" id=\"identifier_9_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Molloy AM, Einri CN, Jain D, Laird E, Fan R, Wang Y, Scott JM, Shane B, Brody LC, Kirke PN, Mills JL. Is low iron status a risk factor for neural tube defects?&nbsp;Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2014 Feb;100(2):100-6. doi: 10.1002\/bdra.23223. Epub 2014 Feb 18\">8<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Does Spina Bifida Respond To Gluten-Free Diet?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Yes. Gluten Free diet with folic acid supplements for the mother is preventive for celiac-disease related spina bifida in the infant. Vitamin\u00a0B12 status should be evaluated before pregnancy\u00a0and supplementation for blood levels below\u00a0300 ng\/L.<\/p>\n<h2>6 Steps To Decrease Risk of Spina Bifida Related To Celiac Disease:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"cp_check green\">\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #800000\"><span class=\"dropcap\"><strong>1<\/strong><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #800000\">Remove the Trigger. Maintain a Strict, Nutritious Gluten Free Diet:<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t<b>Treatment<\/b>. This condition responds to the complete elimination of gluten, which is the required treatment that improves both reproductive and gut health.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Gut health is the foundation to restore ALL health. Restored health will enable you to maintain a strict gluten free diet, just as other life tasks will be easier.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">A strict gluten free diet means removing 100% of wheat, barley, rye and oats from the diet.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Cutting out bread and other obvious sources of gluten is not good enough for recovery. Even 1\/8th teaspoon of flour or bread crumb is enough to sustain the inflammation that is damaging your small intestine, causing increased permeability (leaky gut) and allowing undigested gluten to enter your body where it can damage structures and function, and instigate immune inflammatory responses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Correct Your Individual Nutritional Needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Eat foods that can replenish missing nutrients. Find them under\u00a0NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Take nutritional supplements as needed.\u00a0Find them under\u00a0NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Recovery<\/strong>. You should begin to feel better within a week and notice more energy as inflammation subsides and the \u00a0absorbing cells that make up the surface lining of your small intestine are better able to function.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Intestinal lining cells are replaced every 5 days. The healing process is like sunburn where the damaged surface layer of skin sloughs off and is replaced with new normal cells.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Leaky gut normally resolves in two month after starting a gluten free diet and brings about a big improvement in health. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery (cell appearance and structure) of the small intestine in celiac disease.<a href=\"#footnote_9_890\" id=\"identifier_10_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Cummins AG, Thompson FM, Butler RN, et al. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery of the small intestine in coeliac disease.&nbsp;Clinical Science. Apr 2001;100(4):379-86.\">9<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The intestinal lining may take up to a year to heal.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"cp_check green\">\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #800000\"><span class=\"dropcap\"><\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong>2<\/strong><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #800000\">\u00a0Reduce Inflammation. Foods to Eat and Foods Not to Eat:<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Because gluten is inflammatory, eliminate OTHER inflammatory foods from your diet to reduce an additive effect to gluten. At the same time, try to eat foods that reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory).<\/p>\n<div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t<strong>Here Are Major Inflammatory Food Types That Reduce Healing<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet red\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Damaging Foods<\/strong>. In susceptible persons, includes corn, dairy (cow), and soy. Lactose, the sugar in any animal milk disrupts intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_11_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Allergenic Foods<\/strong>. Includes foods that trigger the immune sytem to produce IgE antibodies. Allergy testing is the usual way to discover these offending foods.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Shelf Stable Processed Foods.\u00a0<\/strong>Includes any that contain additives and preservatives. Look for them on the nutrition label of the box or package. Additives and preservatives also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_12_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Fats.<\/strong>\u00a0Limit deep fried foods, trans-fats, saturated fats (animal fat\/butter), and EXCESSIVE omega-6 fatty acid oils like corn oil. Rancid fats, sodium caprate (a medium chain fat), and sucrose monester fatty acid (a food grade surfactant) induce significant disruption of the intestinal barrier that causes leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_13_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Excessive Refined White Flours\u00a0<\/strong>(bran layer removed)<strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>Includes\u00a0products made from them such as cookies, bread, cakes, pies.\u00a0Bran contains the vitamins and minerals that metabolize grains and slows the otherwise rapid entry of sugar from their digestion into the bloodstream.\u00a0Also disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_14_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Refined Sugars.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Includes white sugar, corn fructose and high fructose corn syrup.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Certain Spices<\/strong>. Includes paprika and cayenne pepper which disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_15_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Alcohol and Caffeine<\/strong>. Disrupt intestinal permeability causing leaky gut.<a href=\"#footnote_10_890\" id=\"identifier_16_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.&nbsp;Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2003;18:479-91.\">10<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t<strong>Here Are Important Anti-Inflammatory Food Types to Promote Health<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Fruits<\/strong>.\u00a0Contain ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which are\u00a0naturally occuring components in plants that detoxify toxins, carcinogens (reducing the risk by 50%) and mutagens.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Non-Starchy Vegetables.<\/strong>\u00a0Support intestinal integrity and provide ample amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Includes lettuce, kale, onion, broccoli, garlic, and others.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>High Quality Complex Carbohydrates<\/strong>. Provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber while boosting serotonin levels to help you relax and feel calm. Includes whole grains, legumes, and root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, red beets, and others.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Antioxidants<\/strong>. Protect the body from inflammatory oxidant molecules that continually occur and\u00a0help us handle stress and reduce irritability. Includes vitamin C-containing foods such as lemon, grapefruit, apricot, Brussels sprouts and strawberries, and others. Also, includes vitamin E-containing foods such as\u00a0nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, and others. Cocoa is good, too.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Omega-3 Fatty Acids<\/strong>. Balance opposing omega-6 fatty acids and bad fats. Fish sources includes tuna, salmon, cod, and others. Plants sources include flax, chia seeds, canola oil, and others.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Probiotics.\u00a0<\/strong>Supply normal microbes needed for colon health and health of the body such as these fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Prebiotics\/ High Fiber Foods<\/strong>. \u00a0Food with fiber keeps our population of colonic microbes healthy.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Protective Herbs and Spices<\/strong>. \u00a0See below #6 below for examples.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"cp_check green\" style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong><span class=\"dropcap\">3<\/span>\u00a0Information Sheet You Can Take to Your Doctor or Other Health Professional:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Click here.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_check green\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong><em><span class=\"dropcap\">4<\/span>\u00a0Manage Your Medications\u00a0Safely<\/em>:<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\n<p>Certain prescription drugs can cause nutritional deficiencies that promote folic acid and\/or vitamin B12 deficieny. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about this possible adverse effect.\u00a0<strong>Do not stop without supervision &#8211; this is mandatory<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>FEMALE HORMONES<\/strong>\u00a0disrupt intestinal permeability.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\">\n<li>Oral Contraceptives (Norinyl\u00ae, Ortho-Novum\u00ae, Triphasil\u00ae, and others) deplete Vitamin B12, Folic Acid.<\/li>\n<li>Oral Estrogen\/Hormone Replacement (Evista\u00ae, Prempro\u00ae, Premarin\u00ae, Estratab\u00ae and others) deplete Vitamin B12, Folic Acid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>DIURETICS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\">\n<li>Potassium Sparing Diuretics (Midamor\u00ae, Aldactone\u00ae, Dyrenium\u00ae and others) deplete\u00a0Folic Acid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>DIABETIC DRUGS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\">\n<li>Metformin\u00ae depletes\u00a0Folic acid, Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Disrupt Intestinal permeability.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\">\n<li>Corticosteroids (Prednisone, Medrol\u00ae, Aristocort\u00ae, Decadron) deplete Vitamin B12, Folic Acid.<\/li>\n<li>NSAIDS (Motrin\u00ae, Aleve\u00ae, Advil\u00ae, Anaprox\u00ae, Dolobid\u00ae, Feldene\u00ae, Naprosyn\u00ae and others) deplete\u00a0Folic acid.<\/li>\n<li>Aspirin and Salicylates deplete\u00a0Folic acid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>ANTICONVULSANTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\">\n<li>Phenobarbital and Barbituates; and Dilantin\u00ae, Tegretol\u00ae, Mysoline\u00ae, Depakane\/Depacon\u00ae deplete\u00a0Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>MAJOR TRA<\/strong><strong>QUILIZERS<\/strong>\u00a0<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13px\">Thorazine\u00ae, Mellaril\u00ae, Pro<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13px\">lixin\u00ae, Serentil\u00ae and others\u00a0deplete\u00a0Vitamin B12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px\"><strong>ANTIBIOTICS \u00a0<\/strong>disrupt intestinal permeability.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\" style=\"font-size: 13px\">\n<li>Gentomycin, Neomycin, Streptomycin, Cephalosporins, Penicillins\u00a0deplete\u00a0B Vitamins.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px\"><strong>ANTACIDS \/ ULCER MEDICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\" style=\"font-size: 13px\">\n<li>Pepcid\u00ae, Tagamet\u00ae, Zantac\u00ae deplete Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<li>Magnesium and Aluminum Antacid preparations (Gaviscon\u00ae, Maalox\u00ae, Mylanta\u00ae) deplete Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<li>Prevacid\u00ae, Prilosec\u00ae\u00a0depleteVitamin B12.<\/li>\n<li>Alka Seltzer\u00ae, Baking Soda deplete\u00a0Folic Acid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px\"><strong>CHOLESTEROL DRUGS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\" style=\"font-size: 13px\">\n<li>Colestid\u00ae and Questran\u00ae Folic acid, Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px\"><strong>ANTIVIRAL AGENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\" style=\"font-size: 13px\">\n<li>Zidovudine (Retrovir\u00ae, AZT and other related drugs) deplete Vitamin B12.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size: 13px\"><strong>ANTI-DEPRESSANTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet blue\" style=\"font-size: 13px\">\n<li>Adapin\u00ae, Aventyl\u00ae, Elavil\u00ae, Pamelor\u00ae, and others\u00a0deplete these nutrients: Vitamin B12.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"cp_check green\">\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #800000\"><strong><span class=\"dropcap\">5<\/span>Nutritional Supplements To Help Correct Deficiencies:<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet orange\">\n<li>Before pregnancy: Multivitamin\/mineral combination once a day is useful to improve overall nutrient levels. This is a safe dose, but always check with your doctor to avoid interactions with medications.<\/li>\n<li>After pregnancy: Prenatal multivitamin\/mineral combination as prescribed by your doctor.<\/li>\n<li>Folic acid if deficient as prescribed following a blood test for serum level.<\/li>\n<li>Vitamin B12 if deficient as\u00a0prescribed following a blood test for serum level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Storage Note<\/strong>:\u00a0<em>Store container tightly sealed, away from heat, moisture and direct light to avoid loss of potency. That is, in a safe kitchen cabinet &#8211; not in the bathroom or on the kitchen table<\/em>.\u00a0\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t<strong>Carminatives.\u00a0<\/strong>The following \u00a0anti-inflammatory\u00a0plant sources called carminitives help heal the digestive tract. They also tone the digestive muscles which improves peristalsis, thus aiding in the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestine to relieve digestive colic and gastric discomfort.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Carminative Food Remedies<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li>Raspberry.<\/li>\n<li>Carrot is also a cleansing digestive tonic.<\/li>\n<li>Grape is also bile stimulating and a cleansing remedy for sluggish digestion and laxative.<\/li>\n<li>Redbeets also stimulate and improve digestion and are easily digested.<\/li>\n<li>Cabbage also stimulates and improves digestion and is also a liver decongestant.<\/li>\n<li>Lettuce also stimulates and improves digestion and is also an alterative, meaning it improves the function of organs involved with the digestion and excretion of waste products to bring about a gradual change.<\/li>\n<li>Potatoes are antispasmodic (due to atropine like properties) and a liver remedy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Carminative Herb Remedies:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li>Chamomile help relieve nervous tension.<\/li>\n<li>Parsley also relieves indigestion.<\/li>\n<li>Rosemary as a tea and in cooking also is a nervous system tonic for stress and fatigue, bile stimulant, and can relieve headaches and indigestion.<\/li>\n<li>Thyme is also soothing remedy useful for stimulating digestion of rich, fatty foods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Carminative Spice Remedies:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li>Cloves are also antispasmodic.<\/li>\n<li>Ginger.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"box shadow\"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"tieicon-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t<strong>Exercise Helps<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>Gentle exercise improves circulation and rids the body of toxins.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"cp_bullet green\">\n<li>Walking is aerobic exercise that reconditions the whole body to improve stamina.\u00a0Read more about<a href=\"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/2014\/07\/08\/fitness-guide\/\">\u00a0Exercise and Fitness<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Weight training builds muscle.\u00a0Read more about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/2014\/07\/08\/fitness-guide\/\">Exercise and Fitness<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Stretching improves flexibilty.\u00a0Read more about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/2014\/07\/08\/fitness-guide\/\">Exercise and Fitness<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: Exercise is important, but the amount and type of exercise undertaken depends on your health. Your first priority is to heal. \n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2>What Do Medical Research Studies Tell About Spina Bifida?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">&#8220;<strong>Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic Acid fortification<\/strong>.&#8221; This study investigating the effect of low vitamin B12 status on neural tube defect risk in a high-prevalence, unfortified population found that deficient or inadequate maternal vitamin B12 status is associated with a significantly increased risk for neural tube defects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Pregnancy vitamin B12 status concentrations was assessed in blood samples taken at an average of 15 weeks&#8217; gestation from 3 independent nested case-control groups of Irish women within population-based cohorts, at a time when vitamin supplementation or food fortification was rare. Group 1 blood samples were from 95 women during a neural tube defect-affected pregnancy and 265 control subjects. Group 2 included blood samples from 107 women who had a previous neural tube defect birth but whose current pregnancy was not affected and 414 control subjects. Group 3 samples were from 76 women during an affected pregnancy and 222 control subjects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Mothers of children affected by neural tube defect had significantly lower vitamin B12 status. In all 3 groups those in the lowest B12 quartiles, compared with the highest, had between two and threefold higher adjusted odds ratios for being the mother of a child affected by neural tube defect. Pregnancy blood B12 concentrations of less than 250 ng\/L were associated with the highest risks.<br \/>\nResearchers suggest that women have vitamin B12 levels of greater than 300 ng\/L (221 pmol\/L) before becoming pregnant. Improving B12 status beyond this level may afford a further reduction in risk, but this is uncertain.<a href=\"#footnote_11_890\" id=\"identifier_17_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-identifier-link\" title=\"Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification. Pediatrics. 2009 Mar;123(3):917-23. doi: 10.1542\/peds.2008-1173.\">11<\/a><\/p>\n<ol class=\"footnotes\"><li id=\"footnote_1_890\" class=\"footnote\">Copp AJ, Greene ND. Genetics and development of neural tube defects. <i>J Pathol<\/i>. 2010 Jan;220(2):217-30. doi: 10.1002\/path.2643.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_1_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_2_890\" class=\"footnote\">http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmedhealth\/PMH0002525\/<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_2_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_3_890\" class=\"footnote\">Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification.\u00a0<em>Pediatrics.<\/em>\u00a02009 Mar;123(3):917-23. doi: 10.1542\/peds.2008-1173.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_3_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_8_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_4_890\" class=\"footnote\">Scott J. Folic acid consumption throughout pregnancy: differentiation between trimesters. Ann Nutr Metab. 2011;59(1):46-9. doi: 10.1159\/000332127. Epub 2011 Nov 25.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses the US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommendation that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microgram of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"highlight\" style=\"color: #000000\">folic acid<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs). Studies have demonstrated that periconceptional\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"highlight\" style=\"color: #000000\">folic acid<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0supplementation can prevent 50% or more of NTDs such as\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"highlight\" style=\"color: #000000\">spina bifida<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0and anencephaly. ((Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Genetics. <em>Pediatrics.<\/em> 1999 Aug;104(2 Pt 1):325-7.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_4_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_5_890\" class=\"footnote\">Stazi AV, Mantovani A. A risk factor for female fertility and pregnancy: celiac disease. <em>Gynecologica endocrinology: the Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology.<\/em> Dec 2000;14(6):454-63.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_5_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_6_890\" class=\"footnote\">Stazi AV, Mantovani A. A risk factor for female fertility and pregnancy: celiac disease. <em>Gynecologica endocrinology: the Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology<\/em>. Dec 2000;14(6):454-63.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_6_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_7_890\" class=\"footnote\">Copp AJ, Greene ND. Genetics and development of neural tube defects. J Pathol. 2010 Jan;220(2):217-30. doi: 10.1002\/path.2643.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_7_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_8_890\" class=\"footnote\">Molloy AM, Einri CN, Jain D, Laird E, Fan R, Wang Y, Scott JM, Shane B, Brody LC, Kirke PN, Mills JL. Is low iron status a risk factor for neural tube defects?\u00a0<em>Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol.<\/em> 2014 Feb;100(2):100-6. doi: 10.1002\/bdra.23223. Epub 2014 Feb 18<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_9_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_9_890\" class=\"footnote\">Cummins AG, Thompson FM, Butler RN, et al. Improvement in intestinal permeability precedes morphometric recovery of the small intestine in coeliac disease.\u00a0<em>Clinical Science<\/em>. Apr 2001;100(4):379-86.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_10_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_10_890\" class=\"footnote\">Farhadi A, Banan A, Fields J, Keshavarzian A. Intestinal barrier: an interface between health and disease.\u00a0<em>Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology<\/em>. 2003;18:479-91.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_11_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_12_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_13_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_14_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_15_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_16_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><li id=\"footnote_11_890\" class=\"footnote\">Molloy AM, Kirke PN, Troendle JF, Burke H, Sutton M, Brody LC, Scott JM, Mills JL. Maternal vitamin B12 status and risk of neural tube defects in a population with high neural tube defect prevalence and no folic acid fortification. <em>Pediatrics.<\/em> 2009 Mar;123(3):917-23. doi: 10.1542\/peds.2008-1173.<span class=\"footnote-back-link-wrapper\"> [<a href=\"#identifier_17_890\" class=\"footnote-link footnote-back-link\">&#8617;<\/a>]<\/span><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Spina Bifida? Spina bifida is a congenital defect of neural tube closure and among the commonest and most severe disorders of the fetus and newborn.1 Spina bifida is a defect in the walls of the spinal canal in the lumbar section (waist level) of the spine in which the backbone and spinal canal &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":5337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,220,237,975,232,105,108,1682,236,974,49],"tags":[1984,1904,776,1906,927,1983,100],"class_list":["post-890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-conditions-2","category-bladder","category-child","category-congenital","category-fetus","category-folic-acid","category-iron","category-malabsorption-disorders","category-spine","category-symptoms","category-nervous-2","tag-child","tag-folic-acid","tag-health-conditions","tag-iron","tag-spina-bifida","tag-spine","tag-symptom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=890"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15428,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890\/revisions\/15428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreeworks.com\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}