High levels of vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to higher IQ scores in the child.
- Higher levels of vitamin D in mothers during pregnancy may promote brain development and lead to higher IQ scores in children.
- Screening and nutritional supplementation can correct vitamin D deficiency in high-risk individuals and promote cognitive function in children.
To keep your child smart, take care of your vitamin D levels. This nutrient is essential for the proper functioning of our body and a mother’s vitamin D intake is transmitted to her baby in utero helps to regulate his development, especially that of his brain. A new study published on November 2 in The Journal of Nutrition reveals that high levels of vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to higher IQ scores in the child.
A higher risk of deficiency in black women
Vitamin D deficiencies are common in the population and particularly among pregnant women, the authors note. “Although many pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin, it may not correct an existing vitamin D deficiency.said Melissa Melough, lead author of the study and a researcher in the Department of Child Health, Behavior and Development at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. I hope our work will raise awareness of this issue, show the long-term implications of prenatal vitamin D for the child and their neurocognitive development..”
The researchers also noted that black women have less vitamin D due to melanin pigments. “The pigment melanin protects the skin against sun damage, but by blocking UV rays, melanin also reduces the production of vitamin D in the skin. For this reason, we weren’t surprised to see high rates of vitamin D deficiency among black pregnant women in our study.”, observed the researcher. According to the study authors, up to 80% of black pregnant women in the United States may be vitamin D deficient.
Take supplements
Of the women who participated in the study, approximately 46% of mothers had vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. The authors relied on data from a Tennessee cohort called the CANDLE study, for Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood. The latter has been following pregnant women and their children since 2006 to study their health and development. “Vitamin D deficiency is quite commonnoted Melissa Melough. The good news is that there is a relatively simple solution. It can be difficult to get an adequate amount of vitamin D through diet and not everyone can compensate for this gap through sun exposure, so a good solution is to take a supplement..”
After controlling for several other IQ-related factors, higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy were associated with higher IQ in children aged 4 to 6. Although observational studies like this cannot prove causation, the authors believe that these findings have important implications and warrant further research. “I want people to know that this is a common problem and can affect the development of childrenadds Mellisa Melough. Vitamin D deficiency can occur even if you eat a healthy diet. Sometimes it is related to our lifestyle, skin pigmentation or other factors beyond our control..”
Foods that are high in vitamin D are fatty fish, eggs, and fortified sources like cow’s milk and cereals. “Vitamin D is one of the hardest nutrients to get in adequate amounts from our diets.”, advances the researcher. More research is needed to determine the optimal levels of vitamin D during pregnancy. Researchers hope this study will help develop nutritional recommendations for pregnant women.
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