New study finds link between prenatal vitamin A deficiency and postnatal asthma

A new research has found the first direct evidence of a link between prenatal vitamin A deficiency and postnatal airway hyper responsiveness.

The study conducted by Columbia University Medical Center investigators have revealed that short-term deficit of this essential vitamin while the lung is forming can cause profound changes in the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways, causing the adult lungs to respond to environmental or pharmacological stimuli with excessive narrowing of airways.(Read: 10 asthma triggers you should avoid)

Dr. Wellington V. Cardoso said that the research has shown that the presence of structural and functional abnormalities in the lungs due to vitamin A deficiency during development is an important and underappreciated factor in this susceptibility. He added that their findings highlight a point often overlooked in adult medicine, which is that adverse fetal exposures that cause subtle changes in developing organs can have lifelong consequences. (Read: Asthma megaguide causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and complications)

The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways. It makes breathing difficult. There is inflammation of the air passages that result in a temporary narrowing of the airways leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. It is a Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease (ROAD) because the obstruction of the lungs is reversible, either spontaneously or with medication. It is also referred to as bronchial asthma. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. The word asthma is derived from a Greek word which means breathlessness or panting. (Read: Asthma: All you need to know)

With inputs from ANI

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