Pregnant women, even those who use supplements, have insufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a new study.
Researchers at Queen's University compared vitamin D levels in 99 Caucasian pregnant women at 12, 20 and 35 weeks of gestation to 38 non-pregnant women. Vitamin D levels were lower in the pregnant women with 96 percent classified as insufficient at 12 and 20 weeks, and 75 percent classified insufficient at 35 weeks.
Women who took multivitamins had higher levels of vitamin D than those who did not take a supplement, but levels were still classified as too low.
The researchers recommend pregnant women take higher dose vitamin D supplements in order to avoid rickets, schizophrenia and type 1 diabetes in their children.
Source:
Cambridge Journals: Vitamin D Deficiency And Insufficiency In Pregnant Women: A Longitudinal Study
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