Vitamin D in early pregnancy can be essential to baby health

New research suggests that adequate taking of vitamin D, known as “the sun's”, may be important to the baby's health during early pregnancy.

Researchers at Penn State found that babies born to women with a lack of this vitamin were more likely to be born prematurely.

These babies were also more likely to be smaller than those born to women who received sufficient vitamin D in their first quarter of pregnancy.

This study provides proof that feeding during early pregnancy even before conception is extremely important,” said the lead author of the study, Celeste Beck, a doctoral student in Penn State.

We can't assume that everyone is missing, but proper nutrition should be in the attention of any woman who plans to get pregnant,” Co-operative author Alison Gerand, associate professor of food science at Penn State.

The study published in February in the magazine “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” shows that vitamin D is essential to health, and the body produces it naturally through exposure to sunlight. However, many people do not receive enough vitamin D in everyday life.

Previous studies have shown that “more than 25% of pregnant women or in the time of lactation have lower levels than recommended in vitamin D,” Gernand noted.