Vitamin E deficiency and embryo damage

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"Researchers for the first time have explained how deficient levels of vitamin E can cause neurologic damage to an embryo, failure to normally develop and ultimately death – a process that in women can be one cause of miscarriage.

The research was published by scientists from Oregon State University in Free Radical Biology and Medicine. It answers some questions about the biologic activities of vitamin E that have been debated since 1922, when this essential micronutrient was first discovered, in part for its role in preventing embryonic mortality.

The research also made clear the importance of vitamin E status for any woman who is planning to, or might become pregnant, scientists said.

The study, done with zebrafish embryos, showed that severe vitamin E deficiency causes the depletion of essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which has been shown to be of critical importance to health in multiple studies in recent years.

When this happens, cells use glucose to prevent or reduce damage. Lacking glucose for energy, many physical and neurologic features, especially the brain, simply don't get built, and death can be the result. Restoration of glucose can repair some of the damage, but some physical deformities remain..."

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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-01-vitamin-deficiency-linked-embryo-death.html