Vitamin D During Pregnancy: Are You Getting Enough?

Researchers at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in the U.S. have discovered a link between vitamin D exposure, thyroid hormones during pregnancy, and healthy child development after birth.

The study analyzed the levels of 20 different elements, along with thyroid hormones and vitamin D, in umbilical cord blood collected at birth. This data was then compared with developmental assessments of the children from birth up to the age of five.

According to the study results, published in "Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy" and cited by SciTechDaily, varying levels of vitamin D can influence delays in the development of fine motor skills, while thyroid hormone levels may affect the pace of cognitive development.

Professor Jessie Cotterell, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the principal researcher of the study, stated: "The research highlights the importance of the intrauterine environment, as the results revealed multiple connections between essential and toxic elements in the umbilical cord and thyroid and vitamin D levels, which impact children's growth for a clear period after birth."

Professor Monica Palantovic, a professor of biomedical sciences and coordinator of the research group on toxicology at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, noted that umbilical cord blood samples were originally collected in 2013. She also stated that there are very few recent studies regarding the long-term effects on child growth resulting from exposure to environmental factors.