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Vitamin D and Moms-to-be

By Holly Ames/Medstar

Published: Mon, September 03, 2007 - 1:58 pm Last Updated: Mon, September 03, 2007 - 2:16 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/4927/

During pregnancy, women do all they can to ensure a healthy baby, but a new study finds a large percentage of moms and babies are lacking one important vitamin.

Megham Kluesner did all she could to care for her unborn baby. She began with prenatal vitamins. "As soon as I found out I was pregnant I went and took, bought those, and started taking them."

A healthful diet during pregnancy helps nurture a healthy baby, but a news study by the University of Pittsburgh identifies a nutritional gap. Epidemiology Professor Lisa Bodnar explains, "We found that there was a strikingly high percentage of vitamin D deficiency in both the moms and their babies."

In the study, blood samples of four hundred pregnant women and their newborns were tested. "In the African-American women," says Bodner, "about over 80 percent of these women were what is considered to be insufficient or deficient in vitamin D. And in white women, the proportions were roughly 45 percent."

90 percent of the moms to be tested were already taking prenatal vitamins, but that's apparently not enough. Bodnar says, "A prenatal vitamin normally contains about 400 international units of vitamin D, so clearly was not enough to maintain adequate vitamin D stores."

A vitamin D deficiency puts babies at risk for skeletal disorders and more. Bodnar says, "They're more likely to have type 1 diabetes. They may be possibly more likely to have schizophrenia when they get older."

While some foods, and even sun exposure, can help boost vitamin D levels, Doctor Bodnar says supplements are the best way to ensure adequate "D" levels. Dr. Bodnar says taking a thousand units could be the safest thing that a woman could do to promote the health of her infant.

Dr. Bodnar recommends that you talk to your doctor about your vitamin D needs. She also adds that vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem in the United States, regardless of race, gender or age.

FAST FACTS:
* Health experts currently recommend 200 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day for people 50 and under.

* Researchers have found nearly 50 percent of pregnant white women and 80 percent of pregnant African-American women have low levels of vitamin D, despite taking a prenatal supplement.

* Children born to women with low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy have higher rates of low bone mineral density.

* Studies also suggest a mom’s low “D” intake may be linked to her child’s risk for several other medical conditions.