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Can we prevent diabetic birth defects with micronutrients?
Author(s) -
Wentzel Parri
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01053.x
Subject(s) - micronutrient , diabetes mellitus , medicine , oxidative stress , pregnancy , folic acid , congenital malformations , endocrinology , physiology , biology , pathology , genetics
Congenital malformations are more common in infants of diabetic women than in children of non‐diabetic women. The mechanisms behind diabetes‐induced congenital anomalies are not known. Disturbed micronutrient metabolism, in concert with oxidative stress, has been suggested as a cause of diabetes‐induced malformations by several studies. In experimental work, administration of inositol, arachidonic acid and several antioxidative compounds, as well as folic acid, to the embryo, has proven to attenuate the teratogenic effects of a diabetic environment. Future therapeutic efforts may include supplementation with antioxidants or micronutrients, such as folic acid, to the pregnant diabetic woman, although exact compounds and doses need to be determined.