Sufficient Vitamin D Intake During Pregnancy Makes Children Have Healthy Bones? This Is What Experts Say

Illustration of pregnant women consuming foods containing vitamin D (Freepic)

A recent study revealed that pregnant women who meet the needs of vitamin D during pregnancy can make children have healthy bones.

The study was led by Dr. Rebecca Moondl of the University of Southampton by reviewing 1,000 pregnant women from several regions in the UK.

They are randomly divided into two groups of one group is asked to consume an additional 1,000 IUs (International Units) of vitamin D per day, and other groups are asked to take a placebo tablet every day.

Penelitian sebelumnya menunjukkan, anak-anak menunjukkan kekuatan tulang yang lebih baik pada usia empat tahun ketika mereka lahir dari ibu yang mengonsumsi suplemen Vitamin D. Penelitian terbaru ini melacak kesehatan tulang dari 454 anak berusia antara enam dan tujuh tahun untuk mengetahui apakah kekuatan tulang mereka bertahan hingga masa kanak-kanak.

Moon, penulis utama studi, mengatakan Vitamin D membantu memperkuat tulang anak dan mengurangi risiko kondisi seperti osteoporosis dan patah tulang di kemudian hari.

Previous research showed that children showed better bone strength at the age of four when they were born to mothers who took Vitamin D supplements. This latest study tracks bone health from 454 children aged between six and seven to find out if their bone strength lasts until childhood.

Moon, lead author of the study, said Vitamin D helps strengthen children's bones and reduces the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis and fractures in the future.

Vitamin D supplements also show an important role in changing gene activity. In a study conducted in 2022, vitamin D supplements, which are consumed during pregnancy, can reduce the risk of babies being exposed to atopic eczema by up to one year.

When taking Vitamin D supplements, pregnant women are also more likely to choose normal childbirth. Calcium and phosphate in the body help build strong bones, teeth, and muscles, and vitamin D help regulate these hormones, thus contributing to bone strength and density. (Ant)