Vitamin A in obstetrics: basic and clinical research

Abstract

Vitamin A (retinoids) is a hormonal growth factor for which there are corresponding receptors (retinoid receptors) and which is fundamentally necessary for the growth and the differentiation of the cells of the placenta and the fetus. During pregnancy, the need for the vitamin A increases thus requiring a balanced approach to the dosage of the vitamin A. The molecular and the clinical effects of the physiological doses of the vitamin A during pregnancy and in the fetus depend on the availability of other vitamins and trace elements. Supplements oif the vitamin A in combinations with other essential micronutrients contribute to (1) reducing the risk of cleft lip/palate, diaphragmatic hernia, neural tube defects, hypertrophic stenosis of the pylorus and other vitamin A-dependent malformations, (2) normalization of birth weight, (3) expression of lung surfactant proteins, prevention of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia and of the chronic lung diseases (bronchiolitis, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia) at an early age, (4) reduction in the measles mortality, (5) the child birth the best anthropometric parameters and with a high Apgar score, (6) preventing the development of allergy in children, (7) preventing anemia, (8) improving cognitive and behavioral development of children.