New research suggests that increased maternal intake of vitamin D during pregnancy can significantly improve a child’s bone health, with benefits lasting into mid-childhood. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Wednesday, highlights the long-term effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation on children’s bone density.
Vitamin D, commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin,” plays a critical role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body, essential minerals for maintaining strong bones, teeth, and muscles. Researchers from the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton (UHS) in the UK found that higher vitamin D intake by pregnant women resulted in stronger, more mineralized bones in their children by the time they reached ages six to seven.
Dr. Rebecca Moon, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Southampton, explained that increasing vitamin D intake during pregnancy offers an important public health strategy. “This early intervention not only enhances children’s bone health but also reduces the risk of bone-related conditions like osteoporosis and fractures later in life,” Dr. Moon said.
The study followed over 1,000 pregnant women, dividing them into two groups: one group took an additional 1,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day, while the other received a placebo. Researchers tracked the bone health of 454 children aged six to seven, assessing the long-term effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation. The results showed that children whose mothers took vitamin D supplements exhibited improved bone mineral density at ages four and six to seven compared to those whose mothers did not.
In addition to the bone health benefits, the researchers previously demonstrated that maternal vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the likelihood of infants developing atopic eczema in their first year of life.
This latest finding underscores the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy for promoting children’s overall health, particularly for preventing bone health issues later in life.
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