It has been known for long now that Vitamin D supplementation helps women but in a study comes the fact that Vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women could lead to long-lasting reduction in osteoporotic fractures in their children.
According to a study it has been shown that children whose mothers were lacking in vitamin D during pregnancy grow up to have weaker bones.It is a common sight and medical fact that Vitamin D insufficiency is common in women of childbearing age. The mentioned study was done by Professor Cyrus Cooper (MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, UK) and colleagues. The study comprised studying 198 children born in 1991-92.
The parameters considered were body build, nutrition, and vitamin D supplementation of their mothers during pregnancy. The children were then followed up at age 9 years to relate these maternal characteristics to their body size and bone mass.
Giving women supplements of vitamin D, particularly if they are pregnant during the winter months when sunlight levels are low, should help their children's bones grow stronger.
In the words of Prof Cooper, "These findings provide evidence that maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy influences the bone growth of the offspring, and their risk of osteoporosis in later life. The results add to a large body of evidence that intrauterine and early postnatal development contributes to bone mineral accrual and thereby osteoporosis risk; they also point to preventive strategies which now require evaluation in randomised controlled trials."
