High vitamin B level in mother's may reduce eczema risk in infants

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A new study conducted by researchers has found that babies whose mothers possess a higher level of particular type of vitamin B during pregnancy may be at a lesser risk of developing eczema, which involves inflammation of the skin.

The study, from the University of Southampton in Britain, is the first to link maternal serum levels of nicotinamide -- a naturally occurring form of vitamin B3 -- and related metabolites to the risk of atopic eczema -- the most common form of eczema -- in the child.

The results showed that offspring of mothers with higher levels of nicotinamide had a 30 per cent lower chance of developing atopic eczema at 12 months. 

There was an even stronger association with higher levels of anthranilic acid, a tryptophan metabolite.

(With IANS inputs)