Vitamin D in pregnancy

Pregnant women should consider taking a supplement of 10µg of vitamin D every day, especially between September and March. A systematic review of various studies on the significance of adequate vitamin D intake in pregnancy³ found some interesting outcomes in several of the studies reviewed:

• Children of women with insufficient vitamin D blood levels during pregnancy had sub-optimal bone mass during childhood, aged 9 years⁵
• Supplementing pregnant women with vitamin D increases serum 25(OH)D at term and probably reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and low birthweight.⁴

There are various supplements available for pregnant women that contain the recommended intake of vitamin D. However, one of the studies reviewed found:⁵

This highlights the importance of your role in educating your customers, in particular new mums and those who are pregnant, on the significance of adequate vitamin D intake.