Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Supplementing 1000 IU/day of vitamin D during pregnancy leads to higher offspring bone mineral density at ages 6-7, suggesting its potential as a public health strategy to enhance bone health.
An exploratory post-hoc analysis from the Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (MAVIDOS) highlighted the long-term benefits of maternal vitamin D (cholecalciferol) supplements on the bone health of children. The study, which followed children from the original MAVIDOS trial, depicted that kids whose mothers received 1000 IU/day of vitamin D during pregnancy had markedly higher bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) at ages 6-7, compared to those whose mothers were given a placebo.
Investigators explored whether the bone health benefits noted in early childhood were sustained as the kids grew older, particularly at ages 6-7. The study encompassed 454 children, born to women who were randomly allocated to get either 1000 IU/day of cholecalciferol or a placebo from 14 to 17 weeks of pregnancy through to delivery. For assessment of bone health, these kids were approached for follow-up at ages 4 and 6-7 years, where they underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning.
The DXA scans gauged bone area, BMC, BMD, and BMAD at the whole-body-less-head (WBLH) and lumbar spine levels. The study adjusted for various factors, including age, gender, height, weight, duration of human milk consumption, and vitamin D use at the follow-up age. Of the 454 kids followed up, 447 had usable DXA scans. The analysis revealed that children whose mothers received gestational cholecalciferol supplementation showed prominently higher BMC, BMD, BMAD, and lean mass as opposed to those whose mothers received a placebo:
These effects were not only eminent at age 6-7 but were similar to those observed at age 4, suggesting that the benefits of prenatal vitamin D on bone health endure into mid-childhood. The positive effects of cholecalciferol use were also evident in lean mass, portraying a broader impact on overall growth and development.
To sum up, vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy plays a key role in promoting the bone health of offspring into childhood. Supplementing with 1000 IU/day of cholecalciferol was associated with enhanced BMD, BMC, BMAD, and lean mass at ages 6-7, mirroring the effects seen at age 4. These findings reinforce the idea that ensuring adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy could be a key health strategy to boost bone health.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Pregnancy vitamin D supplementation and offspring bone mineral density in childhood follow-up of a randomized controlled trial
Rebecca J Moon et al.
Comments (0)