Important nutrients for pregnant women include vitamins, folic acid, and iron. Among them, vitamin D is known as a particularly important nutrient. If it is insufficient, it affects not only the pregnant woman but also the fetus. Looking at the results of previous studies, maternal vitamin D levels are associated with pain during childbirth, postpartum depression, and gestational diabetes, and also affect the child’s IQ, risk of developing ADHD, and lung function. It is for this reason that several experts emphasize ‘vitamin D supplementation’ for pregnant women.
A recent study, however, reaffirms the importance of vitamin D intake during pregnancy. Taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy may lower the risk of developing atopic eczema in newborns, a study has published. The results of this study were published in the ‘British Journal of Dermatology’ and were reported by foreign media such as Science Dialy.
Researchers at the University of Southampton conducted a randomized, controlled trial in mothers to determine whether maternal vitamin D intake had an effect on the development of atopic dermatitis in their children. 703 pregnant women participated in the trial, of which 352 took vitamin D supplements (1,000 IU) daily from the 14th week of pregnancy until delivery, and 351 took a placebo (a fake drug) during the same period.
The researchers found that babies born to mothers who took vitamin D supplements were significantly less likely to develop atopic dermatitis during the first 12 months of life. Professor Keith M. Godfrey, who conducted the study, said: “A vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy has a positive effect on lowering the risk of atopic dermatitis in children, especially in babies who are breastfed after childbirth. It stood out,” he explained.
In the past, studies have been published in Korea that reveal the relationship between maternal vitamin D levels and the occurrence of atopic dermatitis in children. This is the ‘Long-term Follow-up Study on Respiratory and Allergic Diseases in Children (Research Director, Professor Hong Soo-jong, Asan Hospital, Seoul)’ announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019.
The research team investigated the vitamin D concentration in the cord blood of 955 live births and analyzed the course of atopic dermatitis during the first 3 years of life. As a result, when the cord blood vitamin D concentration was less than 10.0 ng/mL, that is, a severe deficiency level, the risk of developing atopic dermatitis increased by 2.77 times, the risk of diagnosis by 2.89 times, and the risk of treatment by 1.46 times during the first 3 years of life. Based on the results of the study, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized, “Since the fetus is completely dependent on the mother’s vitamin D, attention should be paid to vitamin D management from the early stage of pregnancy in order to prevent atopic dermatitis in the early stages of life after birth.”
As various studies have shown, vitamin D is an important nutrient for both mother and child. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful not to be deficient in vitamin D on a regular basis. The best way to supplement this is to get in the sun at least twice a week for 5 to 30 minutes. If sun exposure is not feasible, it is a good idea to eat vitamin D-rich mackerel, tuna, mushrooms, etc., or to take a vitamin D supplement by consulting your doctor.
