Undiagnosed Celiac/Birth Defects

[Guest guest]

Ashley and all~

Through my research into Celiac/Gluten Intolerance, I've found that

people can be severly anemic, and deficient in some crucial vitamins. Here

is something I copied from a website with Celiac information.

 

" The presentation of CD is very serious (in spite of no intestinal symptoms)

because many nutrients are absorbed in this area of the digestive system.

Vitamin B1 and B12 (numbness in extremities), Iron (anemia), Folic Acid

(birth defects), Calcium and Vitamin D (bones and muscles), Vitamin E

(nerves), Vitamin A (eyes) and Vitamin K (blood clotting) may be malabsorbed

That is, the nutrients from food and supplements are not absorbed properly.

"

 

Folic Acid deficiency is the leading cause for neural tube defects (as I'm

sure many of you have heard). Also, I read this other information that was

very interesting about birth defects (I'll copy the whole thing below, but

will draw out a couple points right here to simplify).

 

" *Because folate enzymes help create neuron structures (eg: myelin), and

highly mitotic fetal cells depend on maternal folate to support the specific

timing of proliferative bursts during gestation, a wide range of negative

pregnancy outcomes can result when a deficiency occurs. The type of

negative outcome depends upon which structures were being formed when folate

enzymes became exhausted (Antony AC, 2000). Folic acid deficiency is basic

to a wide range of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly

devastating structural anomalies of the brain and spinal cord (neural tube

birth defects - NTD's: spina bifida -a failure of the spine to close;

anencephaly -absence of or part of the brain; and encephalocele -a hole in

the skull through which brain tissue protrudes). Its role as the major

cause of NTD's has been confirmed (Oakley GP Jr, 1996, Molloy AM, 1999).

Because many drugs interfere with folate metabolism, most are ill-advised

during pregnancy. Besides NTD's, other conditions such as still birth,

spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, low birth weight, preeclamsia,

placenta abruption, hydrocephalus, club foot, cleft palate, Down's Syndrome,

mental retardation, and heart defects, have been attributed to a deficiency

as well (Mills J, 1999, James SJ, 1999, Nelen WL, 1998). "

 

 

 

Isn't it interesting? I guess that is why I was wondering how many women

with Celiac had children with birth defects before going gluten free. Just

curious more than anything. : )

Thanks for your responses. I'm looking forward to baby # 8 and know that

this baby, as well as all of us, is " fearfully and wonderfully made " . (Psalm

139:13-18)

 

 

Joyfully Serving Jesus~

Lynnette (Mama to Jared 12, Abigail 9, Cecily 6, Anna 4, Silas1, Samuel

7/1-7/14/1992, Josiah 1/15-1/20/1995 and Baby # 8 due Aug. 22nd)

 

 

Birth Defects

Types / Toxins & Drugs / NTD History / Folic Acid Awareness / Rates and

Trends

Types of Birth Defects *Because folate enzymes help create neuron

structures (eg: myelin), and highly mitotic fetal cells depend on maternal

folate to support the specific timing of proliferative bursts during

gestation, a wide range of negative pregnancy outcomes can result when a

deficiency occurs. The type of negative outcome depends upon which

structures were being formed when folate enzymes became exhausted (Antony AC

2000). Folic acid deficiency is basic to a wide range of central nervous

system (CNS) disorders, particularly devastating structural anomalies of the

brain and spinal cord (neural tube birth defects - NTD's: spina bifida -a

failure of the spine to close; anencephaly -absence of or part of the brain;

and encephalocele -a hole in the skull through which brain tissue protrudes)

Its role as the major cause of NTD's has been confirmed (Oakley GP Jr,

1996, Molloy AM, 1999). Because many drugs interfere with folate

metabolism, most are ill-advised during pregnancy. Besides NTD's, other

conditions such as still birth, spontaneous abortion, premature delivery,

low birth weight, preeclamsia, placenta abruption, hydrocephalus, club foot,

cleft palate, Down's Syndrome, mental retardation, and heart defects, have

been attributed to a deficiency as well (Mills J, 1999, James SJ, 1999,

Nelen WL, 1998). In October, 2002, the results of a case-control study of

women with spontaneous abortion and control women from January 1996 through

December 1998 in Uppsala County, Sweden further confirmed that low plasma

folate levels significantly increase the risk of early spontaneous abortion

(George L, 2002). A certain gene located on chromosome 21, known as CBS

(cystathionine beta-synthase), is overexpressed in Down's Syndrome (also

known as trisomy 21). This gene abnormally replicates itself so that there

are three of these chromosomes instead of two, hence the name " trisomy 21. "

In-vitro cell studies have shown that this abnormal replication occurs when

folate enzymes are lacking and homocysteine metabolism is hindered (Pogribna

M, 2001). Mothers of infants born with Down's Syndrome and children with

the condition often have polymorphisms in two folate genes, MTHFR 677C-->T

and MTRR 66A-->G (Hobbs CA, 2000). Cleft palate occurs more often in

children born to mothers with folate gene mutations as well (Martinelli M,

2001, Mills, 1999). Folate sensitive sites have been located on the X

chromosome involved in the most frequently inherited form of mental

retardation, " Fragile X Syndrome " (Gu Y, 1996, Li N, 1985). Cardiovascular

malformations (CVM's) have also been associated with maternal dietary folate

insufficiency and maternal folate gene mutations (Rosenquist TH, 2001). In

a recent study conducted by the Birth Defects and Genetic Diseases Branch of

the CDC, it was determined that one in four major cardiac birth defects

could have been avoided if mothers consumed a daily multivitamin

periconceptually(Botto LD, 2000).

----

 

About the birth defects, I have heard of babies from Celiac mothers being born

with some problems, but never anything even close to as severe as yours. Those

cannot all be food deficient problems, can they???

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing that it is very interesting. I wonder if they are meaning

that having CD puts you at a greater risk with those particular vitamins and

minerals or if that is while a CD person is still eating gluten.

 

I always thought it was weird that I was fine until my second child was born.

He happens to be my CD child. I could not eat wheat/gluten after he was born

and haven't since then. I NEVER had even a slight problem with it

before.....very strange!!

 

I also want to apologize. I fear that I might have offended you by saying

that you were blessed. I feel bad. I didn't mean it to sound the way it might

of.

 

I am so sorry for your losses, and I hope that if I ever have to face

anything like that I can come out of it with a sweet and gentle spirit like

you have.

 

I guess I was thinking more about you serving the Lord and trusting in Him to

decide the size of your family. Not many people are willing to do that these

days.

 

Tracy

[Guest guest]

Tracy,

Offended? No no no....I agree. I feel extremely blessed! Blessings

come in many forms and just knowing that we are in God's will and that He is

using us to create His children, gives us GREAT JOY! Besides, the ones that

have gone on are with the Lord in Heaven. : ) What a wonderful place to be

.....I'm looking forward to being there myself.

 

Thank you for you email. It was quite an ecouragment.

Have a great day.

 

Joyfully Serving Jesus~

Lynnette (Mama to Jared 12, Abigail 9, Cecily 6, Anna 4, Silas1, Samuel

7/1-7/14/1992, Josiah 1/15-1/20/1995 and Baby # 8 due Aug. 22nd)

 

" I also want to apologize. I fear that I might have offended you by saying that

you were blessed. I feel bad. I didn't mean it to sound the way it might of. "