Scientists from McGill University and the Univeriste de Montreal discovered that Vitamin D, in its purest form, can counteract the effects of Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), (Journal of Biological Chemistry). It involves ongoing or chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The Crohn’s-induced inflammation most often affects the intestines. However, it may also occur at the mouth and rectum, (ADAM Multimedia Encyclopedia).

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease was unknown until now. Now that scientists have extensively studied this disease, they now have a better understanding of how it affects the body. It has long been suspected that Crohn’s disease is linked to a malfunction of the body’s immune system response, but it was not clear how, (ADAM Multimedia Encyclopedia). That assumption wasn’t farfetched.

In fact, in the process of determining that Vitamin D has a direct effect on Crohn’s disease, the scientists realized that the innate immune system, which acts as the body’s first defense against microbial invaders was the part of the immune system that was directly involved with the disease. It is believed that the immune system is overreacting to normal bacteria in the intestines, (ADAM Multimedia Encyclopedia).

Findings from the study suggest, for the first time, that Vitamin D deficiency can directly contribute to Crohn’s disease. There is even a belief that people from northern countries who receive less sunlight necessary for the manufacture of Vitamin D by the human body, are susceptible to Crohn’s disease, (Journal of Biological Chemistry). According to ADAM Multimedia Encyclopedia, genetic predisposition and environmental factors seem to play a large role in a person getting Crohn’s disease.

The research team found that Vitamin D acts directly on the beta defensin 2 gene. This gene encodes for an antimicrobial peptide. Vitamin D also acts directly on the NOD2 gene, which alerts cells to the presence of invading microorganisms that enters the body, according to the research team. They said both Beta-defensin and NOD2 have been linked to Crohn’s disease, suggesting that if NOD2 is deficient or defective, it won’t be able to combat invading microbes in the intestinal track.

Vitamin D, in its active form is called “1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D,” which is a hormone that binds to receptors of cells of the body, according to the researchers. Over-the-counter Vitamin D Supplements can adequately supply the body with enough Vitamin D, the team said.

The researchers argued that the Crohn’s-Vitamin D discovery can be put to the test, stating that siblings of people with Corhn’s disease who haven’t yet developed the disease might be well advised to make sure they are Vitamin D sufficient, and they can get enough Vitamin D in their systems by simply going to the pharmacy and buying Vitamin D supplements.

It is great to know that Vitamin D can help people defend themselves against Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases by them just buying Vitamin D supplements from the local pharmacy.

Typically, we take various medications to kill off bacterial infections, treat existing conditions, and help? our bodies fight viruses. However, medicine is not always the good guy. There are some dangerous drugs prescribed by doctors that can cause serious birth defects when taken by women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. In these cases, it is the innocent child that suffers.

Probably the most famous of the birth defect causing drugs is the teratogen, Thalidomide. It began as a miracle drug that treated everything from insomnia to colds. Also, Thalidomide was prescribed to women to inhibit morning sickness. Sadly, when thousands of pregnant women took it, they also consigned their children to gross aberrations in their physical appearance. Thalidomide babies are characterized by abnormal appendages and more. Arms and legs can be shortened, flipper-like in appearance, and even omitted entirely. As Thalidomide usage is again on the rise for treating ovarian cancer, Crohn’s disease, and as an anti-tumor. Thus, pregnant women must be vigilant in staying away from this teratogen.

In order to treat severe acne, dermatologists often prescribe the drug Accutane, from the tetracycline family. Women who take Accutane must agree to use two types of birth control if they are of childbearing age while taking the medication. This is because the anti-acne pills can cause tragic birth defects. Accutane usage has been linked to babies born with severe brain and heart defects, leading to mental retardation and 160 other recorded issues. Thus, along with the two contraceptives, women taking Accutane have to submit to pregnancy tests every month of using the drug.

Paxil is an antidepressant medicine that can cause the even more saddening event of birth defects. A study showed that women who took Paxil in their first trimester were up to 2x more likely to have a baby with birth defects. The chances of abnormal kids raise to 6x more likely when mothers took Paxil after twenty weeks of pregnancy. Paxil can cause seizures, holes in the heat, and even persistent pulmonary hypertension, or PPHN. PPHN results in abnormal blood flow and can lead to death.

Blood pressure medicines in the family of ACE inhibitors have shown to increase the risk of birth anomalies. These blood pressure-lowering drugs include Zestril, Lotensin, and Prinivil, among others. Studies have concluded that taking ACE inhibitors during the second half of pregnancy leads to atypical kidney functioning, and even irregular kidney anatomy. Currently, the medicine containers have the black box warnings that caution using the drugs during pregnancy, but it is not as closely regulated as Accutane.

This is just an overview of some of the drugs that can cause harmful birth defects. Before taking anything while you are pregnant or attempting to conceive, please check with your doctor. Also, if you suspect that your doctor has prescribed you a drug that causes birth defects while you are pregnant, this could be medical malpractice. If you are in the Philadelphia area, a good birth injury law firm to seek out is Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. For more information on birth injury, please visit their website