535
can be associated with women with a dietary calcium intake lesser than 300 mg/day
and also adolescents who have high basal requirements of 1.2 g/day according to the
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) (Marangoni et al. 2016).
24.5.4 Vitamin D
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D 3 from animal source) and ergocalciferol (Vitamin D 2
from plant source) are two main molecular species of Vitamin D. Dietary intake
affect the circulating levels of Vitamin D. One of the hydroxylation processes that
occurs during the metabolism of vitamin D is responsible for 25-hydroxy-vitamin D
production. 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D is produced by hydroxylation process in the
renal tubes and are regulated through the mechanism of feedback mechanism. The
entirely process depends on phosphorus and calcium requirement (Spiro and
Buttriss 2014). the exposure of sunlights (290–315 nm wavelength), cause the synthesis of vitamin D. Vitamin D is affected by factors of individual characters (sex,
weight, phenotype) and environment (latitude, season, time of exposure with sunlight, degree of physical activity, pollution and use of supplements). Celiac disease,
cystic fibrosis, liver and kidney disorders, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are
the problems associated with low synthesis of vitamin D in the epidermis layer
because of ageing (Spiro and Buttriss 2014).
In Italy, people suffer from severe vitamin D deficiency mostly during the winter
season (Freisling et al. 2010). Obese individuals are subjected to high intake of
vitamin D because of greater depots of vitamin D in the adipose tissues (Cashman
and Kiely 2014). Cod liver oil is a good source of vitamin D and food sources like
fish (herring and salmon), high fat cheese, butter, eggs also contribute to a smaller
portion of vitamin D. Metabolism of cytokine and immune system modulation are
regulated by vitamin D 3 that is predominant from the maternal blood at the first
stage of pregnancy. It also regulates hormone secretion and embryo implantation.
Mothers and breastfed infants are usually affected by vitamin D deficiency during
the winter season because natural sunlight is less (Lamberg-Allardt et al. 1986).
According to recent studies, supplementation during pregnancy can overcome the
risk of pre-eclampsia (De-Regil et al. 2016).
24.5.5 Folic Acid
Folic acids (folates, vitamin B9) play a vital role in several metabolic reactions
occurring in the body like the biosynthesis of DNA and RNA, methylation of homocysteine to methionine, amino acids metabolism, amongst others. As a matter of
fact, metabolized forms of folic acids serve as transport coenzymes that enhances
the transfer of carbon units from one compound to another. As a result, folic acids
are considered healthy and its deficiency may lead to megaloblastic anaemia, throm24 Role of Nutraceuticals in Maternal Nutrition
can be associated with women with a dietary calcium intake lesser than 300 mg/day
and also adolescents who have high basal requirements of 1.2 g/day according to the
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) (Marangoni et al. 2016).
24.5.4 Vitamin D
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D 3 from animal source) and ergocalciferol (Vitamin D 2
from plant source) are two main molecular species of Vitamin D. Dietary intake
affect the circulating levels of Vitamin D. One of the hydroxylation processes that
occurs during the metabolism of vitamin D is responsible for 25-hydroxy-vitamin D
production. 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D is produced by hydroxylation process in the
renal tubes and are regulated through the mechanism of feedback mechanism. The
entirely process depends on phosphorus and calcium requirement (Spiro and
Buttriss 2014). the exposure of sunlights (290–315 nm wavelength), cause the synthesis of vitamin D. Vitamin D is affected by factors of individual characters (sex,
weight, phenotype) and environment (latitude, season, time of exposure with sunlight, degree of physical activity, pollution and use of supplements). Celiac disease,
cystic fibrosis, liver and kidney disorders, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are
the problems associated with low synthesis of vitamin D in the epidermis layer
because of ageing (Spiro and Buttriss 2014).
In Italy, people suffer from severe vitamin D deficiency mostly during the winter
season (Freisling et al. 2010). Obese individuals are subjected to high intake of
vitamin D because of greater depots of vitamin D in the adipose tissues (Cashman
and Kiely 2014). Cod liver oil is a good source of vitamin D and food sources like
fish (herring and salmon), high fat cheese, butter, eggs also contribute to a smaller
portion of vitamin D. Metabolism of cytokine and immune system modulation are
regulated by vitamin D 3 that is predominant from the maternal blood at the first
stage of pregnancy. It also regulates hormone secretion and embryo implantation.
Mothers and breastfed infants are usually affected by vitamin D deficiency during
the winter season because natural sunlight is less (Lamberg-Allardt et al. 1986).
According to recent studies, supplementation during pregnancy can overcome the
risk of pre-eclampsia (De-Regil et al. 2016).
24.5.5 Folic Acid
Folic acids (folates, vitamin B9) play a vital role in several metabolic reactions
occurring in the body like the biosynthesis of DNA and RNA, methylation of homocysteine to methionine, amino acids metabolism, amongst others. As a matter of
fact, metabolized forms of folic acids serve as transport coenzymes that enhances
the transfer of carbon units from one compound to another. As a result, folic acids
are considered healthy and its deficiency may lead to megaloblastic anaemia, throm24 Role of Nutraceuticals in Maternal Nutrition