Study: Maternal Vitamin D Intake Linked To Stronger Bone Health In Children Up To Age 7

New Delhi: Extra intake of vitamin D during pregnancy can enhance a child's bone health up to the age of 7, according to research published on Wednesday.

Vitamin D, often referred to as the sunshine vitamin, plays a crucial role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body—minerals vital for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton (UHS) in the UK found that increasing vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women improved bone mineral density in their children during mid-childhood.

The findings revealed that higher maternal vitamin D intake boosted the concentration of calcium and other essential minerals in the children's bones, resulting in stronger, more resilient bones that were less prone to fractures.

Dr. Rebecca Moon, NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Southampton, highlighted the significance of these results. She described early intervention through vitamin D supplementation as an “important public health strategy,” emphasizing its potential to strengthen children's bones and lower the risk of developing conditions such as osteoporosis and fractures later in life.

The research, detailed in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined over 1,000 pregnant women. Participants were split into two groups—one receiving an additional 1,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D daily and the other taking a placebo. The study then tracked 454 children, aged six to seven, to assess whether the positive effects on bone health persisted into mid-childhood.

The beneficial impact observed on children’s bone health at ages four and again at six to seven underscores the lasting effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation.

Previous studies by the Southampton research team have also shown that maternal vitamin D supplementation can significantly decrease the risk of atopic eczema in infants up to one year old.

These findings reinforce the potential of maternal vitamin D intake as a preventive health measure, underscoring its benefits not just in infancy but extending into childhood and beyond.