Does Vitamin D change during pregnancy?

What’s covered?

Vitamin D also known as “The Sunshine Vitamin” is derived from a family of fat-soluble prohormones. Vitamin D is essential to fortify the skeletal system and metabolism, especially during pregnancy. Even though only a few countries have national data on their public's vitamin D status, deficiency is believed to be a general populace health concern in several parts of the globe. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is usual in some populations during pregnancy.

The frequency of vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy varies between 18 and 84%, according to research, depending on the nation of residency and regional cultural patterns (Dawodu, PubMed). Knowing a little bit more about vitamin D is a smart idea all the talk about how important it is.

Does Vitamin D change during pregnancy?

Substantial changes in concentrations of female Vitamin D and calcium absorption arise during pregnancy and breastfeeding to deliver the calcium required for foetal bone mineral accretion. The Vitamin D demand of the female's body is increased for sure when there is another life nourishing in her.

The foetus accumulates 2-3 mg/d inside the skeleton over the first trimester; although, this frequency of deposition increases in the latter trimester (Abrams SA, PubMed).

A pregnant woman's body responds to foetal needs by boosting the absorption of calcium in pregnancy, with maximum absorption in the third trimester.

How much Vitamin D is required during pregnancy?

The requirement for vitamin D is certainly increased during pregnancy; however, there was no ground evidence on how much vitamin D was enough to support proper growth and development. Now quite a lot of studies and research have been conducted. According to a new study, women who take 4,000 IU of mineral D regularly had the biggest advantages in avoiding infections and preterm births. The experts from the study now advise this daily intake of vitamin D with all pregnant women because the study proved vitamin D at about this level is safe for both you and your unborn child. Since most prenatal vitamins only contain 400 IU of Vit D, daily supplementation is advised to be consumed (Salyn Boyles, 2010).

On what defines a "normal" level in pregnancy, there is little agreement. While the Endocrine Society advises 30 ng/ml or higher, while the Institute of Medicine recommends a normal level of 20 ng/ml during pregnancy. We believe that a minimum threshold of 20 ng/ml will be preferable in pregnancy given the absence of reliable, consistent outcome evidence with greater levels of D. There is still room for better results at higher levels (Holick MF, PubMed).

Between 400 and 600 IU of vitamin D per day is recommended. The Endocrine Society and IOM have both put the upper acceptable level for vitamin D at 10,000 IU per day (NICE, 2014).

Why is more Vitamin D required during pregnancy?

Women can benefit from vitamin D for their health. There is now a wealth of evidence to support vitamin D's contribution to bone health, good cell division, and immunological function. Lung development, immune regulation, and insulin action as well as secretion are all supported by vitamin D. Therefore, it could influence a variety of foetal development parameters.

Vitamin D contributes to your baby's healthy development by promoting strong bone growth. Preeclampsia may have an additional risk factor in the form of maternal vitamin D insufficiency. Preeclampsia and vitamin D deficiency are linked conditions (American Pregnancy Association). It should be investigated whether vitamin D supplementation during the first trimester of pregnancy can prevent preeclampsia and improve neonatal health. Preeclampsia risk has been correlated with low levels of vitamin D during the initial 26 weeks of gestation by a 40% increase (Journal Epidemiology, Medical News Today).

• Growth of the skeleton

It has long been understood that vitamin D is crucial for the skeletal development of both foetuses and newborns. Foetal rickets, craniotabes, and osteopenia in newborn babies are consequences of inadequate skeletal mineralization in gestation caused by vitamin D deficiency. Congenital rickets is an uncommon condition that primarily affects babies born to mums who suffer from severe osteomalacia plus vitamin D insufficiency. Impaired foetal bone calcification in full-term babies was associated with the mother’s vitamin D insufficiency (Weiler H, Fitzpatrick, 2005).

• Vitamin D insufficiency when breastfeeding

The vitamin D concentration of an infant depends mostly on vitamin D which is gained by placental transfer in gestation over the first six weeks of postnatal development.

By the time a baby is 8 weeks old, most of their mother's vitamin D stores have been used up (Ala-Houhala, PubMed). The remaining sources of vitamin D are food, sunlight, and supplements. Babies who are fed formula often get enough vitamin D since it is incorporated into all formulations.

Why is there Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women?

Expectant mothers must intake the suggested doses of vitamin D throughout pregnancy and birth for both their health as well as the healthful development of their child. In the US, between 5 and 50% of expectant women are thought to be vitamin D deficient. Occasionally, infants who are breastfed and whose mothers are vitamin D deficient display life-threatening diseases. According to estimates, there are 2.7 occurrences of heart failure linked to rickets each year in the UK and Ireland (Maiya S, Sullivan, PubMed).

Vitamin D is crucial for postpartum health, foetal development, and maternal health. Unfortunately, the evaluation of levels of vitamin D currently isn't part of maternity care.

Will pregnancy require me to take more Vitamin D?

Vitamin D requirements vary among women. Some need it more than others. According to recent research, undernutrition of vitamin D is frequent during pregnancy, especially in high-risk populations like vegetarians and those who get little sun.

The following factors could increase your likelihood of vitamin D deficiency:

• Inactivity
• Genetics
• Obesity/Overweight

Pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, poor glucose tolerance during pregnancy, neonatal hypocalcaemia seizures, impaired skeletal growth and development for babies, impaired foetal lung development, and childhood immune disorders are just a few of the maternal and foetal complications caused by low vitamin D levels in the body.

Vitamin D intake in pregnancy

The body needs calcium and phosphate to maintain strong bones, teeth, and muscles, and vitamin D controls how much of these minerals are present. Whenever our skin is subjected to summertime sunshine (between march and April to the end of September), our bodies begin to produce vitamin D.

Although the precise amount of time in the sun required to produce adequate vitamin D to fulfil the body's requirements is unknown, it is important to wrap up or safeguard your body using sunscreen if you are outside before it starts to burn or turn red.

You can receive most of the minerals and vitamins you need during pregnancy by eating a healthy, diversified diet. You might be considering taking supplements in addition to nibbling on those fruits and snagging some smashed avocado for lunch. Despite not being present in great quantities in food, you can still acquire your daily dose of this nutrient outside of your prenatal.

The following are a few top vitamin D-rich drinks and foods to include on your menu:

• Salmon and trout: These oily fish are good sources of vitamin D and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, trout is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in prenatal brain development.
• Milk that has been fortified: Most of the cow's milk has been added vitamin D. Cow's milk is also a fantastic supply of calcium as well as protein, two other essential nutrients for pregnant women.
• Fortified Vegan milk: Choose a vitamin D-fortified plant-based milk if you desire non-dairy milk.
• Eggs: Even if they can't completely meet your dose of vitamin D requirements, eggs remain a fantastic option for expectant mothers. They also supply choline, which prevents various birth abnormalities and aids embryonic brain development, as well as protein.

The recommended quantities of vitamin D for pregnant women are up for discussion among doctors.

Do you require a Vitamin D supplement when expecting?

Typically, since we may not have much access to direct sunshine throughout the winter, we are urged to think about taking supplements. However, it is usually advised for expectant mothers to have vitamin D supplements since it promotes the healthy development of the baby's bones, teeth, kidneys, heart, and nervous system.

Although most prenatal vitamins solely contain vitamin D, you might need to consume prenatal vitamins while pregnant. Additionally, it can be challenging to consume enough vitamin D through food alone, especially when you choose enriched options.

The bottom line

Since vitamin D is a necessary nutrient during pregnancy, it's important to consume enough of it. To do this, take a prenatal vitamin that contains 600 IUs of Vit D, as well as additional supplements if your doctor advises them. Regardless of whether your doctor advises taking supplements, concentrate on including healthy amounts of vitamin D into the diet regularly. If you are worried about your vitamin D test, check out our blood test for vitamin D.