Most Pregnant Woman Suffer From Vitamin D Deficiency!

According to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Genecology, seven out of every ten pregnant women in America are not getting enough vitamin D. In a press release from the University of Colorado Denver School of medicine, some researchers noted the study found that the intake of prenatal vitamins can possibly increase the levels of vitamin D at the time of pregnancy, but for many women high doses may be needed.

National Institutes of Health supports this research done. A study team from University of Colorado School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston examined nationally representative data from 5,173 non-pregnant and 928 pregnant women of childbearing age collected by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

The study has revealed that various pregnant women in U.S have insufficient levels of vitamin D. For those women, which prenatal vitamins do not supply enough vitamin D, higher doses are needed to raise the levels. Women who cover their skin for cultural or religious reasons, those who have darker skin, and those who are living in the farther northern region are at high risk of lower levels of vitamin D, according to the University.

“Prenatal vitamins do help raise vitamin D levels, but many women start taking them after becoming pregnant,” as said by Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, assistant professor at University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “Although research is ongoing, I think it’s best for women to start a few months before becoming pregnant to maximize the likely health benefits.”

Ginde further added, “We already know vitamin D is important for bone health of the mother and infant, but we are just starting to scratch the surface about the many potential health benefits of vitamin D during pregnancy.”

Vitamin D deficiency in early years of life has been linked to increasing risk of childhood wheezing and respiratory infections. Lower levels in adults have been linked to cancer and cardiovascular.