Is This Vitamin Key During Pregnancy? Are You Getting Enough?

Research conducted by scientists at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in the U.S. has found a connection between exposure to vitamin D and thyroid hormones during pregnancy and proper child development after birth.

The researchers examined the relationship between the levels of 20 different elements and the levels of thyroid hormone and vitamin D in umbilical cord blood collected during the childbirth and child development stages. These data were compared to test results conducted on the child from birth up to the age of 5.

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According to the study results, published in the journal "Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy" and cited on "SciTechDaily", varying levels of vitamin D have an impact on the delay in developing fine motor skills. Furthermore, thyroid hormone levels have implications on 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 demonstrates 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 in 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.