Study: A Deficiency of Vitamin A Could Negatively Impact Stem Cells

A study done at the German Cancer Research Center has found that a vitamin A deficiency can negatively impact blood stem cells. Specialized cells located in the blood, digestive system, and skin have a relatively brief lifespan and require regular replenishment. They come from stem cells which constantly divide in order to survive.

In 2008, scientists found a group of specialized stem cells which are located in the bone marrow that are dormant the majority of the time, and only become active in order to combat viral or bacterial infections, loss of blood, or in reaction to chemotherapy treatments. When their task is completed, these powerful stem cells return to a dormant state.

The mechanisms that case the stem cells to activate and deactivate have now been identified. It was discovered that retinoic acid, which is a vitamin A metabolite, is critical for these processes. When retinoic acid isn't present, active stem cells aren't able to go back into dormancy and they develop into specialized blood cells, instead.

Using specially-bred mice, researchers learned that the stem cells are lost as a reservoir if there is a shortage of retinoic acid. "If we feed these mice on a vitamin A deficient diet for some time, this leads to a loss of stem cells," Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid, lead author of this study, stated. "We can prove for the first time that vitamin A has a direct impact on blood stem cells."

This research serves to help provide new insight into previous studies which indicated that vitamin A deficiency impairs the immune system. "This shows how vitally important it is to have a sufficient intake of vitamin A from a balanced diet," Cabezas-Wallscheid said.

Researchers speculate that these findings may play a role in future cancer treatments because cancer cells, like stem cells, rest in a dormant state and their metabolism is stopped, resulting in resistance to chemotherapy.

Study pulished in Cell.

Biotin Deficiency

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin, which is alternatively referred to as vitamin B7 or vitamin H. It is a coenzyme, which means that it binds with protein, and it aids in metabolizing fatty acids and leucine. It also is integral in gluconeogenesis, a process used by the body in order to keep blood sugar from dropping to too low of a level.

Signs of a Biotin Deficiency

Signs of biotin deficiency can include the appearance of a facial rash, combined with an atypical distribution of facial fat. Biotin deficiency can be inherited and people who have this may display signs of an impaired immune system, including a higher susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. Other signs of deficiency may include:

1) Hair loss
2) Conjunctivitis
3) Depression
4) Dermatitis
5) Numbness and Tingling of extremities

People Most at Risk of a Biotin Deficiency

There are a number of factors that may result in someone having a biotin deficiency. First, biotin deficiency is not very widespread or common, as it is produced in large quantities by bacteria located in the intestine.  However there are some individuals who may have an increased risk of having a biotin deficiency.

Alcoholics seem to have a higher incidence of biotin deficiency. Elderly people may also be at risk for biotin deficiency. Additionally, athletes or other people who push their bodies physically are at a higher risk. Other risk factors may include, pregnant and lactating women, those that have had a gastrectomy, those who have low levels of gastric acid in their stomach, epileptics, and people who smoke.

Pregnancy and Biotin Deficiency

Woman who are pregnant have a greater risk of biotin deficiency. This could be due to the fact that they are using higher levels of biotin. One study discovered that nearly half of women who were pregnant had an abnormal increase of a particular acid in the body that lowers the levels of biotin in the body.

Studies have found that biotin deficiency while pregnant could cause congenital malformations including cleft palate. Infants and embryos are more sensitive to biotin deficiency, therefore mothers who suffer from mild biotin deficiency could cause more serious consequences to their infant. No signs of symptoms of biotin deficiency may even be apparent to the mother.

Avoiding Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient for aiding in the maintenance of strong, healthy bones due, in part, to its function of helping the body to better absorb calcium. Vitamin D has also been proven to be particularly important for women who are pregnant, with sufficient intake levels of the vitamin being associated with a reduction in the number of underweight infants and premature births.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that the body can store it long-term. However, it is estimated that more than half of Britain's population is deficient in the vitamin.

The main problem is that people do not obtain most Vitamin D from dietary sources, but rather, the epidermis produces about 90% of it with the help of adequate exposure to sunlight.

In winter months, and in locations which are often overcast, we get less exposure to sunlight and the sun tends not to be less strong.

Getting enough Vitamin D through diet alone is difficult, but essential when exposure to sunlight is limited. Excellent sources of Vitamin D are oily fish (e.g. mackerel, trout, and tuna) liver, mushrooms, and dairy products.

Black and Asian people do not manufacture Vitamin D as readily as Caucasians, as their natural pigmentation blocks out much of the UV light needed.

Physicians recommend 2 or 3 periods of direct exposure to sunlight per week throughout the summer months. This may help the body to make enough Vitamin D to last throughout the winter months.