Pregnancy: Vitamin D Levels Related to a Child's IQ
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According to a recent study, mothers' vitamin D levels during pregnancy were associated with their children's IQ. Therefore, higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to higher IQ scores during infancy.
Another new benefit of vitamin D. During pregnancy, it is passed to the baby in the womb and helps regulate brain development. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition showed that mothers vitamin D levels during pregnancy were also associated with their childrens IQ. Specifically, higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy would be associated with higher IQ scores during childhood.
Additionally, this study identified significantly lower levels of vitamin D in pregnant black women. Melissa Melough, lead author of the study and a scientific researcher in the Department of Child Health, Behavior and Development at the Seattle Childrens Research Institute, says that vitamin D deficiency is common in the general population, as well as in pregnant women.
Black women are at higher risk of deficiency
She specifies that black women are most at risk. "The melanin pigment protects the skin from sun damage, but by blocking UV rays, melanin also reduces the production of vitamin D in the skin. For this reason, we were not surprised to see high levels of vitamin D deficiency in women. black pregnant women in our study. Although many pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin, this may not correct an existing vitamin D deficiency, "said the researcher. Up to 80% of pregnant black women in the United States may be deficient in vitamin D.
"I hope our work raises awareness of this issue, shows the long-term implications of prenatal vitamin D for the child and neurocognitive development, and highlights that there are certain groups that providers should pay more attention to," recommends Melissa Melough. .
Fill vitamin D deficiencies
Among the women who participated in this study, about 46% of the mothers were deficient in vitamin D during pregnancy. After controlling for several other factors related to IQ, higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy were associated with higher IQ in children ages 4 to 6. Although this observational study cannot prove causation, the scientist believes that these findings warrant further investigation.
"Vitamin D deficiency is quite common. The good news is that there is a relatively simple solution. It can be difficult to get adequate amounts of vitamin D through your diet, and not everyone can make up for this difference with sun exposure. , so a good solution is to take a supplement ", recommends the author. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 600 international units (IU). For the future, more research is needed to determine optimal levels of vitamin D during pregnancy.
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