Children whose mothers took additional vitamin D during pregnancy showed continued bone strength at age seven, according to a study.
Recent research from the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton (UHS) indicates that children of mothers who consumed extra vitamin D while pregnant are still exhibiting stronger bone health at age seven.
Bone density imaging showed that these children possess a higher bone mineral density in their mid-childhood years. Their bones are enriched with calcium and other essential minerals, making them more robust and less prone to fractures.
The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, highlights the critical role of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy as an essential public health measure.
Dr. Rebecca Moon, a Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Southampton, led this research. She remarked: “Our results indicate that the advantages of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy last into mid-childhood.”
“This proactive approach is a significant public health strategy that promotes children’s bone health and lowers the risk of osteoporosis and fractures as they age.”
Vitamin D is vital for managing calcium and phosphate levels in the body—key minerals for the health of bones, teeth, and muscles.
In 2009, the MAVIDOS study was initiated, involving over 1,000 women from Southampton, Oxford, and Sheffield.
These women were randomly split into two groups during their pregnancies: one group received an additional 1,000 International Units of vitamin D daily, while the other took a placebo. Neither the pregnant women nor their healthcare providers knew which group they belonged to.
Earlier studies evaluated the children’s bone health at age four, finding greater bone mass in kids whose mothers had taken vitamin D supplements during pregnancy, compared to those who hadn’t.
This recent study aimed to determine if these benefits persisted as the children grew older. Researchers followed 454 children aged six to seven, all born to mothers involved in the Southampton study.
The findings confirmed that the positive impact on bone health remained consistent from ages four to six or seven.
Currently, pregnant women in the UK are routinely encouraged to take vitamin D supplements.
The research team from Southampton is affiliated with the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRC LEC) and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
The MAVIDOS trial has provided insights into the mechanisms that connect maternal vitamin D supplementation with increased bone mass in children. In a 2018 study, researchers found that vitamin D supplementation altered the activity of related genes.
In 2022, they noted that vitamin D intake during pregnancy could significantly reduce the incidence of atopic eczema in infants up to one year old.
They also observed a higher likelihood of spontaneous vaginal deliveries among mothers who received additional vitamin D.
Professor Nicholas Harvey, Director at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and Professor of Rheumatology and Clinical Epidemiology, is the project lead. He expressed: “These discoveries enrich the vital knowledge derived from the MAVIDOS trial.”
“We sincerely appreciate all the mothers and children who participated. Their involvement has significantly contributed to our understanding of vitamin D supplementation and its significance in fostering strong and healthy bones.”
