Study: Mom’s Low Vitamin D Associated W/ Children’s Language Problems
From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.
According to Modern Medicine a recent study has found that moms who didn’t take much vitamin D during pregnancy were more likely to have children with language development problems.
The Study
Researchers from the University of Western Australia studied moms and their children 20 years ago.
They worked with over 700 pregnant moms mid-way through pregnancy and took note of their vitamin D levels. The women were grouped by quartiles (groups of 4) depending on their measured vitamin D levels.
After 5 and 10 years, researchers tested the children to measure the following: behavioral development, emotional development and language abilities.
The Findings
- The risk for developing emotional and behavioral problems were same across all 4 groups of moms
- Children who came from moms belonging to the lowest quartile (those who had the lowest levels of vitamin D during pregnancy) were more likely to suffer from language problems
The Takeaway
While low vitamin D levels may be associated with language issues, the lead author of the research Dr. Whitehouse says that his study “does not show a cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin D and language problems.”
So now you ask: What’s the value of this study? Though more research is needed to conclude whether low vitamin D levels really affect language development, there’s no harm in getting the recommended daily allowance from food or supplements.
Do remember though that when it comes to increasing vitamin D intake through supplements, it’s best to consult with a doctor first.
Know anyone who is pregnant? Share this with her now for a healthier pregnancy. A little sunshine can’t hurt anyway!
Photo:Creative Commons from HikingArtist.com