Consume Enough Vitamin D While Pregnant Not Ensure Healthy Bone in Children

Nutrition consumed by women during pregnancy usually affects the health of her unborn child both while still in the womb, until later. But a new study suggests young bone health is not affected by adequate intake of vitamin D during pregnancy.

British researchers measured vitamin D levels of nearly 4,000 pregnant women. Researchers also do a bone mineral density of children born at the age of 12 years. As a result, there was no significant association between levels of vitamin D during pregnancy with the child's level of bone density.

Bone mineral density is an indicator of bone health. Low levels of minerals associated with poor bone health and high risk diseases such as rickets or rickets.

Vitamin D helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth. Previous studies have indicated that the relationship between vitamin D adequacy while pregnant with the child bone health is not very convincing. And a recent study conducted by researchers from Bristol University this reinforces previous research it.

Research published in the online edition of the journal The Lancet also showed inconsistencies with the UK health guide which mentions the need for extra vitamin D during pregnancy.

Lead researcher Debbie Lawlor said this study is contrary to the suggestion the addition of vitamin D intake during pregnancy with the aim of influencing the child's bone health later in life.

Philip Steer from Imperial College London who was not involved in the study said, inconsistent results might make the reason is not yet clear why the additional intake of vitamin D is officially recommended in pregnant and lactating women.

Another study says that vitamin D levels during pregnancy affect the baby's birth weight. So the approach is safe, according to Steer, with sufficient vitamin D during pregnancy.

"Especially for women who have high risk, such as exposure to the sun and rarely obese before pregnancy," he said.