2023-05-01 02:25:49
01.05.2023
Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is common in the United States. A US study has now shown that an adequate supply of vitamin D during pregnancy reduces the risk of later behavioral problems in the child.
Among other things, vitamin D plays an important role in the brain development of unborn babies and children. dr In a previous study, Melissa Melough from the University of Delaware and her team discovered that vitamin D deficiency in the womb can lead to behavioral problems in children. The observed behavioral problems range from extreme shyness, withdrawal or depression to aggressive behavior and violence.
Study on around 3,200 mothers and their children
The research team now investigated to what extent the behavioral problems persist up to the age of 13 and how their frequency decreases with higher vitamin D levels in the womb. For this purpose, the researchers recruited 3,168 mother-child pairs from the ECHO program (Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes), which researches the effects of environmental influences on child development.
Vitamin D deficiency is particularly common among black women
The vitamin D supply of the pregnant women was measured using blood samples taken during pregnancy and umbilical cord blood. Behavioral problems in early (1.5–5 years) and middle childhood (5–13 years) were recorded using standardized questionnaires. In the statistical analysis, the researchers also took into account other influences such as the age and ethnicity of the mother, the sex of the child, socioeconomic factors (e.g. the mother’s education) and the mother’s lifestyle.
About 45% of the participants had a vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-vitamin-D3 < 20 ng/ml) during their pregnancy, with black women being particularly affected. If the mothers were sufficiently supplied with vitamin D during pregnancy, their children had significantly fewer behavioral problems - in all age groups. The behavioral problems also decreased in a dose-dependent manner.
Pay attention to vitamin D during pregnancy
The study thus proves that an adequate supply of vitamin D during pregnancy can help to avoid behavioral problems in the child.
Editor’s note
If there is insufficient sun exposure – especially in the winter months – the human skin does not produce any vitamin D. Women with heavily pigmented skin and women who cover themselves for cultural and religious reasons have an increased risk of vitamin D in our latitudes, even in the summer months. Shortage. Under these circumstances, pregnant women need vitamin D-rich foods or vitamin D preparations to avoid an undersupply of the vitamin. Good sources of vitamin D are oily sea fish (e.g. mackerel, herring, salmon) and foods artificially fortified with vitamin D. Plant foods and mushrooms do not contain enough vitamin D.
Quelle: Melissa M. Melough et al, Greater Gestational Vitamin D Status is Associated with Reduced Childhood Behavioral Problems in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program, The Journal of Nutrition (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.005
#Sufficient #vitamin #pregnancy #prevent #behavioral #problems #child #www.frauenaerzteimnetz.de