Higher Levels of Vitamin D During Pregnancy Linked with Stronger Babies

Pregnant women who have high levels of the "sunshine" vitamin are more likely to have stronger babies, according to a news release.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton, found that expecting mothers with high levels of vitamin D give birth to babies with good grip strength measurements. The grip strength is used to assess the hand function of a child.

Low levels of vitamin D are often found to be associated with poor muscle function in adults and children. In the present study, researchers wanted to know whether or not vitamin levels during pregnancy affected child's muscle strength.

For the study, researchers first measured vitamin D levels in 678 mothers in the later stages of pregnancy. All the women were part of the Southampton Women's Survey. Children's grip strength was measured when they were about four years old.

Study results showed that higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy co-related with higher grip strength in children.

"These associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring muscle strength may well have consequences for later health; muscle strength peaks in young adulthood before declining in older age and low grip strength in adulthood has been associated with poor health outcomes including diabetes, falls and fractures," Dr Nicholas Harvey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton.

"It is likely that the greater muscle strength observed at four years of age in children born to mothers with higher vitamin D levels will track into adulthood, and so potentially help to reduce the burden of illness associated with loss of muscle mass in old age," Harvey added, according to a news release.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

A related study has shown that pregnant women who don't get enough vitamin D are more likely to give birth to obese children. Babies who don't get enough vitamin D may develop rickets, a disease that affects development of bones.

Also, vitamin D keeps mood swings away and prevents weight gain in women who have hit menopause.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, pregnant and lactating mothers require about 600 IU or 15 mcg of Vitamin D.

The body produces Vitamin D when it is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun. Certain foods such as egg yolk and fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines and herring) are good source of this vitamin.