Dr. Rath Research Institute

Pre-eclampsia, which affects approximately 1 in every 20 first time pregnancies, could be prevented if high risk pregnant women started taking a dietary supplement containing L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins during their 20th week of pregnancy, researchers from La Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, reported in the BMJ (British Medical Journal).

Comments: This particular study published in the British Medical Journal is one more example that the researchers all over the world have accepted and are now utilizing Dr. Rath’s innovative principle of nutrient synergy. Over a decade ago, Dr. Rath introduced and incorporated the concept of nutrient synergy in his research. With nutrient synergy it is not a single nutrient that ensures optimum health, but the intake of a complete spectrum of different micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements. The effectiveness of this approach has been confirmed not only in clinical trials at the Dr. Rath Research Institute, but also through other independent researchers.

The La Universida Nacional Autonoma de Mexico study also used a combination other antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C and E, in addition to L-arginine in the hopes of prevention of pre eclampsia in high-risk women. In this double blind placebo controlled trial of approximately 700 women, the results indicated that those who supported their diet with a combination of arginine and antioxidant vitamins experienced the preventative effects and reduced incidence of pre eclampsia during their pregnancy.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition where abnormally high blood pressure when untreated leads to many serious complications for both mother and the child. It is more common in first pregnancies and affects 1 in 20 pregnant women. It usually happens around the 20^th week of pregnancy but can occur as late as 4 to 6 weeks after birth.

Unmanaged high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause a condition called premature rupture of membranes which necessitates manual induction of labor and delivery of the baby and has associated risks for the infant. It is a very serious condition for the mother and can lead to liver and kidney failure, abnormal blood clotting and life threatening seizures.

Nutrient deficiencies in in the diet, especially of L-arginine, are thought to be the main cause for high blood pressure during pregnancy leading to pre-eclampsia. Arginine is a non-essential amino acid, which means that the required amount can be obtained from food. Arginine is also sometimes referred to as “conditionally essential” as it may become necessary under periods of growth and for recovery after injury. Arginine is mainly known as the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), which in turn relaxes blood vessels (vasodilator effect) thereby reducing blood pressure levels. The human body can manufacture nitric oxide only from arginine.

Every nutrient requires certain other synergistic nutrients for proper functioning. Very high doses of any one nutrient do not provide the desired benefits and at times mega doses of one nutrient may potentiate the deficiency of other dependent nutrients. For example, the amino acid proline is closely associated with effective arginine metabolism and its utilization at the cellular level. All types of growth factors play a critical role during pregnancy. Human growth factor release from arginine is highly dependent on associated supplementation of choline and vitamin B5. There is also some evidence that the arginine-lysine combination causes more effective release of growth hormone at lower doses.

Dr. Rath's Cellular Health research focuses on nutrient synergy as the most effective approach to optimizing cellular metabolism and restoring its balance, and has repeatedly shown that this approach is more effective than using individual nutrients, or their random combination. Please read more about Dr. Rath's research at www.drrathresearch.org

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/226118.php