Mothers who take plenty of vitamin D during pregnancy have babies with stronger muscles

According to British researchers, children whose mothers took high level of vitamin D during their pregnancy are likely to have stronger muscles.

In a study of almost 700 English mothers and their children, British Scientist found that the more of vitamin D a woman had in her blood during pregnancy, the stronger her child’s grip at the age of four.

It is thought that vitamin D has an effect on the way muscle fibres grow in the womb, helping them to work harder in later life.

PREGNANCY AND VITAMIN D

All pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms. Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium in the body, which helps to keep bones and teeth strong and healthy, as well as providing a baby with enough vitamin D in their first months. All pregnant and breastfeeding women, particularly teenagers and young women, are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.  The people most at risk are those who spend long periods inside without much sunlight and people of South Asian or Caribbean descent as darker skin foes not produce as much vitamin D in response to sunlight. Source: NHS Start4Life

Young people with strong muscles have been shown to be less susceptible to debilitating falls and fractures in old age, and have more protection against diabetes. 

Nicholas Harvey, of Southampton University, said the research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism added to evidence that showed the seeds for the diseases that plague the elderly are sown early in life.

Although vitamin D is found in oily fish and other foods, it is mostly created by our bodies when our skin is exposed to sunlight.

The importance of vitamin D in pregnancy is underlined by another study that found children born to women with low levels had weaker bones as adults. Muscles also play a role in regulating hormones, so less muscle raises the risk of diabetes.

Vitamin D is known to be essential to bone health and the Government advises mothers-to-be to take ten micrograms a day.