Pregnant women don't get enough vitamin D
Added 19.10.2009
Higher doses of vitamin D needed during pregnancy
A study published this month reiterates what many scientists have been saying for a while now: pregnant women, even those taking supplements at the recommended daily allowance (RDA), are not getting enough vitamin D. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK currently recommends pregnant women to take 400 IU of vitamin D daily. But researchers are worried that this is just not enough to ward off problems in the future life of the baby, such as rickets, type I diabetes and schizophrenia.The Scientific Study
Background information
The longitudinal study aimed at assessing vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women. For this purpose, 99 Caucasian pregnant women at 12, 20 and 35 weeks of gestation were assessed for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. Thirty-eight age-matched, non-pregnant women living at latitude 54 to 55 degrees N (Northern Europe) served as the control group and were also tested for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels.
Results
- Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were lower in pregnant women than in the control group (p<0.0001).
- Pregnant women at 12, 20 and 35 weeks of gestation were respectively 35, 44 and 16% deficient in vitamin D (<25 nmol/l) and 96, 96, and 75% were classified as vitamin D insufficient (<5o nmol/l).
- Vitamin D insufficiency was evident in the control group from Northern latitudes.
- Women taking vitamin D supplements (at RDA) had higher levels of the vitamin than women who did not take supplements; however, they were still classified as vitamin D insufficient despite supplementation.
Vitamin use during pregnancy should be increased to protect the health of both the mother and baby.
How much vitamin D?
Pregnant women should take at least 800 IU of vitamin D a day and many researchers recommend at least 2,000 IU. This is especially the case for people who live in the Northern hemisphere and virtually get no sun exposure during the winter months (vitamin D is produced from sunlight exposure).References:
Barnes, M. & all. "Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women: a longitudinal study." British Journal of Nutrition. Vol. 102, Issue 6, pp. 876-881. September, 2009. FDA
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
Quite scary conclusions from this recent scientific study: most pregnant women living in Northern Europe are so low in vitamin D that it may influence the future health of their children. Other recent scientific studies say folic acid level is also too low in most pregnant women and this is why many researchers today also recommend supplementing with 800 micrograms of folic acid a day instead of the official recommendation of 400 micrograms. The only sensible conclusion from this and other scientific studies is, if you are pregnant or consider becoming pregnant in the future, to take quality supplements that supply you with a daily dose of 800 IU of vitamin D3 and 800 micrograms of folic acid as well as all the other important vitamins and minerals.
