Vitamins

Many of us have our children on a vitamin supplement. Who knows if this makes a difference. Some thoughts below.

Vitamin E

I wonder if the Vitamin E in Dr. Judy's formula maybe contributes to how well it works:

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2003 Aug;42(2):211-7. [] Vitamins C and E improve endothelial dysfunction in intrauterine-undernourished rats by decreasing vascular superoxide anion concentration.

Franco Mdo C, Akamine EH, Aparecida de Oliveira M, Fortes ZB, Tostes RC, Carvalho MH, Nigro D. This says that rats that didn't get the nutrients that they need to grow in utero profit from having extra vitamine E and vitamin C. The vitamins improve blood flow throughout the body. Could this be contributing to the improved muscle growth and activity that we see in our kids?

Comp Biochem Physiol C. 1991;100(3):665-9. Related Articles, Links

Vitamin E regulates acetylcholine receptor function of molluscan neurons.

Dyatlov VA.

This says that vitamin E increases expression of acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system. Acetylcholine receptors are critical for communication between the nervous system and muscles. Note, that this study was performed in snails, but all great works in neuroscience began in mollusks...

So, now, are you all even more confused? I know that I am. What if our kids need more Vitamin E? What if Vitamin E is part of the magic formula? They are only now starting to do good research on the benefits of Vitamin E on recovery from stroke and on decreasing the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's...

Vitamin A

A researcher in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Connecticut (where I studied and worked for many years) is conducting research on the relationship of Vitamin A, gene expression, metabolism and liver cells. Her research proposal was ranked as the top proposal nationwide for the USDA National Research Initiative's Program Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health:

http://www.advance.uconn.edu/2004/041018/04101808.htm

I also found interesting information on the Linus Pauling website about Vitamin A, discussing how "...retinal can be converted by the body to retinoic acid, the form of vitamin A known to affect gene transcription... retinoic acid (RA) has been found to regulate expression of the gene for growth hormone..."

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminA/

The more I read about this, the more I wonder if there is a link with PWS?

Resource

Healing Thresholds has fact sheets and research summaries of vitamin therapies for autism. (Children with PWS are at risk for autism.)