Children are likely to have stronger muscles if their mothers had a higher level of vitamin D in their body during pregnancy
Children are likely to have stronger muscles if their mothers had a higher level of vitamin D in their body during pregnancy, according to new research.
British researchers found that by the age of four, children whose mothers took vitamin D during their pregnancy had stronger grips and greater muscle mass.
Low vitamin D status has been linked to reduced muscle strength in adults and children, but before this study little was known about how variation in a mother’s status during pregnancy affected her child.
Low vitamin D levels are common among young women in the UK and although they are recommended to take an additional 10g/day of vitamin D in pregnancy, many don't take supplements.
‘These associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring muscle strength may well have consequences for later health,’ said Dr Nicholas Harvey, a senior lecturer at the university.
‘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.
British researchers found that by the age of four, children whose mothers took vitamin D during their pregnancy had stronger grips and greater muscle mass
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
‘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.’
A total of 678 mothers took part in the research, which is published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Professor Cyrus Cooper, professor of rheumatology, said: ‘This study forms part of a larger programme of research in which we are seeking to understand how factors such as diet and lifestyle in the mother during pregnancy influence a child’s body composition and bone development.
‘This work should help us to design interventions aimed at optimising body composition in childhood and later adulthood and thus improve the health of future generations.’
Greater muscle strength observed at four years of age in children born to mothers with higher vitamin D levels could one day help to reduce the burden of illness associated with loss of muscle mass in old age. All pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to take a daily vitamin D supplement (pictured) of 10 micrograms
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2533277/Higher-vitamin-D-levels-pregnancy-help-babies-stronger.html#ixzz2pLyr5itW
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