title: Induction and prevention of cleft lip, alveolus and palate and neural tube defects with special consideration of B vitamins and the methylation cycle.
abstract: Previous studies on the development of cleft lip, alveolus, palate, and velum and neural tube defects have revealed several shared multifactorial causes. Both anomalies emerge at different times during embryonic development and are not associated with each other unless there is a genetic component to the etiology. Vitamin deficiency disorders are one of several factors contributing to the etiology of these anomalies.Vitamins B6, folic acid and B12 play an essential role in the methylation cycle. A lack of or deficiency in these vitamins thus has severe consequences for the organism, especially the unborn child. Due to its short half-life, vitamin B6 is particularly important for undisturbed embryogenesis and should be taken along with folic acid as a periconceptional supplement to prevent embryonic deformities. This paper is intended to provide the orthodontist (as a member of the interdisciplinary cleft team) with an overview of the issues and etiological significance of vitamin B deficiencies as possible inducers of these embryopathies. This may encourage comprehensive counselling, particularly of parents of children born with deformities who wish to have more children.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Rotgerberstrasse 8, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weingärtner
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanghänel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gedrange
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bienengräber
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Proff
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014804:Vitamin B Deficiency / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex