Vitamin D during pregnancy

Vitamin D is another nutrient that is very important both during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. This means that your body stores it for longer periods of time than water soluble vitamins-- which have no long term storage. Vitamin D helps increase bone mass which can prevent osteoporosis as well as help with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.

The main ways to get vitamin D are through the suns rays as well as through foods such as fortified milks, eggs, salmon, and mushrooms. Many people are deficient in vitamin D due to poor intakes as well as seasonal changes causing less sun exposure.

Pregnant women should be taking at least 400IU of vitamin D daily--- usually found in a prenatal vitamin. Although some studies have found that increased intakes may reduce risk of complications during pregnancy.

Current research states that up to 4,000 IU (10 times that of the above recommended) may help decrease risks of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preterm birth, and preeclampsia (see our post here).

Intakes too low may cause risk of cancers, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, or the possibility of your child developing high blood pressure.

If you would like more information on how to increase your vitamin D intakes, reach out to us here and we would be happy to help individualize your diet to meeting your specific needs.

Until next time!

Mikayla and Cassie

Mamas Maternal Health Registered Dietitians/Lactation Counselors

References:

https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/vitamin-d-and-pregnancy/

https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100504/high-doses-of-vitamin-d-may-cut-pregnancy-risk#1

https://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/kids-ailments-health-news-434/low-vitamin-d-at-birth-linked-to-kids-high-blood-pressure-risk-747906.html

Photo by Tikkho Maciel on Unsplash

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