Mum, son pass the test

VIT AMIN D NEW STUDY SHEDS LIGHT ON

A LACK of sunlight during pregnancy could make children more prone to developing asthma and cause lower bone density in boys that may eventually lead to osteoporosis.

A new Geelong-based Deakin University study found boys whose mothers had lower vitamin D levels during the early stages of pregnancy can have lower bone density and poorer bone health throughout childhood than their peers.

Lead researcher Dr Natalie Hyde said doctors assessed the vitamin D levels of hundreds of pregnant women in 2002 and then assessed the bone health of children at ages one, six and 11.

The Vitamin D in Pregnancy study, which assessed 180 11-yearolds, found pregnant women should be trying to increase their vitamin TORQUAY’s Lisa Ham has always known the importance of getting the right amount of sun exposure. With a background in nutrition Ms Ham was aware that what she ate and did would directly impact her unborn child. When pregnant with Charlie in 2002, Ms Ham jumped at the opportunity to take part in a vitamin D deficiency study. Under the Barwon Health and Deakin University study, researchers tracked Charlie’s health and bone density for 11 years. They have linked his results D levels from early stages of pregnancy.

The main source of vitamin D is to Ms Ham’s good vitamin D levels at the time of his birth. “At the time there was a whole array of survey questions about eating habits and time in the sun — I didn’t know my exact results but I thought my levels would be pretty good,” Ms Ham said. Ms Ham said Charlie had followed in her footsteps and loved the outdoors, was very healthy and enjoyed sport. She hopes the research can be used to educate other mothers about getting the right exposure to vitamins and nutrients. sunlight. Dr Hyde said bone mass is largely developed in childhood and needs to build up to prevent diseases like osteoporosis.

“The main purpose of the study was to look at the effects of vitamin D on bone development during pregnancy,” Dr Hyde said.

During the observational study, backed by Barwon Health, women and their children were not given any vitamin supplements, but researchers did find that 38.1 per cent of pregnant women in the study had less vitamin D than the recommended guidelines.

Doctors found at birth that babies exposed to low vitamin D level in utero had a decreased knee-toheel length.

At the 11-year follow up it was found that those same babies had a higher fat percentage and decreased muscle tissue.

Dr Hyde said researchers also found low vitamin D levels later in pregnancy were associated with wheeziness and asthma.