"UPDATE Click here to read the latest statement from the Victor Chang Institute. https  OVERVIEW  One of Australias greatest discoveries in pregnancy research  Vitamin B can potentially treat molecular deficiencies which cause miscarriages and birth defects  Discovery promises to reduce miscarriages and birth defects  Findings expected to change the way pregnant women are cared for A blockbuster world first breakthrough at Sydneys Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is expected to prevent recurrent miscarriages and multiple types of birth defects in one of Australias most significant discoveries in pregnancy research. Crucially Australian scientists have also demonstrated a potential cure in the form of a common dietary supplement. This historic discovery is expected to forever change the way pregnant women are cared for around the globe. Every year . million babies are born with a birth defect worldwide and one in four pregnant women suffer a miscarriage in Australia. In the vast majority of cases the cause of these problems has remained a mystery. Until now. This breakthrough led by Professor Sally Dunwoodie from the Victor Chang Institute has identified a cause of recurrent miscarriages as well as heart spinal kidney and cleft palate problems in newborn babies.        The ramifications are likely to be huge. This has the potential to significantly reduce the number of miscarriages and birth defects around the world and I do not use those words lightly says Professor Dunwoodie.    The landmark study found that a deficiency in a vital molecule known as NAD can prevent a babys organs from developing correctly in the womb.   Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD is one of the most important molecules in all living cells.  NAD synthesis is essential for energy production DNA repair and cell communication. Environmental and genetic factors can disrupt its production which can cause a NAD deficiency. World first research at the Victor Chang Institute has found that this deficiency can be particularly harmful during a pregnancy as it can cripple an embryo when it is forming. Now after  years of research our team has also discovered that this deficiency can potentially be cured and miscarriages and birth defects prevented by taking a common vitamin Professor Dunwoodie revealed. At the heart of the paramount discovery is the dietary supplement vitamin B also known as niacin. Scientists at the Victor Chang Institute have discovered simply boosting levels of this nutrient during pregnancy can potentially prevent recurrent miscarriages and birth defects. Vitamin B is required to make NAD and is typically found in meats and green vegetables as well as vegemite. However a recent studyi found that despite taking vitamin supplements at least a third of pregnant women have low levels of vitamin B in their first trimester which is the critical time in organ development. By the third trimester vitamin B levels were low in  of pregnant women. This indicates pregnant women may require more vitamin B than is currently available in most vitamin supplements. Using a preclinical mouse model scientists at the Victor Chang Institute investigated the effect of vitamin B on developing embryos. The results were astounding. Before vitamin B was introduced into the mothers diet embryos were either lost through miscarriage or the offspring were born with a range of severe birth defects. After the dietary change both the miscarriages and birth defects were completely prevented with all the offspring born perfectly healthy. This discovery is akin to the revolutionary breakthrough made last century that confirmed folic acid supplementation can prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects in babies. As a result consumption of folic acid has been adopted by expectant mothers worldwide and the addition of folate to our food supply has led to a  decrease in the number of babies born with neural tube defects. According to the Executive Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Professor Robert Graham the implications are profound. Just like we now use folate to prevent spina bifida Professor Dunwoodies research suggests that it is probably best for women to start taking vitamin B very early on even before they become pregnant. This could change the way pregnant women are cared for around the world said Professor Graham.    We believe that this breakthrough will be one of our countrys greatest medical discoveries. Its extremely rare to discover the problem and provide a preventive solution at the same time. Its actually a double breakthrough said Professor Graham. The next step will be to develop a diagnostic test to measure NAD levels. This will enable doctors to identify those women who are at greatest risk of having a baby with a birth defect and ensure they are getting sufficient vitamin B. The findings have been released today by the New England Journal of Medicine  the most prestigious clinical research publication in the world. http  This study would not have been possible without the generous support of the Chain Reaction Foundation httpchainreaction.org.au the Key Foundation and the National Health and Medical Research Council https  STATISTICS   in  pregnant women will suffer a miscarriage  . million babies are born with a serious birth defect worldwide every year  . million children under five die from serious birth defects annually  Congenital heart disease is the most common form of birth defect affecting  in  babies   babies are born with a heart defect in Australia every week   babies will undergo heart surgery in Australia every week  Heart defects account for  of deaths in children under five REFERENCE  Baker H DeAngelis B Holland B GittensWilliams L Barrett T Jr. Vitamin Profile of  Gravidas during Trimesters of Pregnancy. Journal of the American College of Nutrition . MEDIA CONTACTS Media Manager     g.glovervictorchang.edu.au mailtog.glovervictorchang.edu.auMedia Coordinator  l.alexandrouvictorchang.edu.au mailtol.alexandrouvictorchang.edu.au"