Studies are showing the importance of vitamin D levels during pregnancy on growing fetuses. It’s not only about bones and skeletal development but also IQ. A recent study showed an association between a woman’s vitamin D levels during pregnancy and her baby’s IQ. Higher vitamin D levels increased childhood IQ scores. This makes sense since vitamin D is passed to the baby in utero and is a vital nutrient for brain development.
The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, also revealed that black pregnant women are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency and its impact on their children. It is estimated that 80% of American women of color who are pregnant may be vitamin D deficient. Blame that on melanin. Although high amounts of melanin protect the skin from UV rays, it also reduces the amount of vitamin D the body can utilize, leading to deficiencies in women of color.
Aside from bone and brain development, vitamin D is essential in placental function, cell proliferation, organogenesis and more. Low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy can even impact a child’s health later in life. Vitamin D deficiency is also linked with preeclampsia.
Currently, about 40-60 of the U.S. population is vitamin D deficient, and this percentage includes pregnant women. Aside from skin pigment, other factors may influence a person’s ability to properly absorb vitamin D, such as obesity, autoimmune diseases, the use of sunscreen, nutrient deficiencies, malabsorption, pollution and toxicity, age, geography and more.
Supplementation is key; however, a prenatal vitamin is not enough. The studies have found that 4,000-6,000 IU of daily vitamin D prevents preterm births and may help prevent infections. A prenatal vitamin, on average, only provides 400 IU of vitamin D.
Evidence of vitamin D’s importance to fetal development is supported by 22 clinical studies involving over 3700 pregnant women. This research shows that vitamin D reduces pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, low birthweight and other risk factors when compared to placebo.
Our Vegan D3+K2 contains vegan Vitamin D3 along with two essential forms of K2 (MK-4 + MK-7). Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, while Vitamin K2 helps the body ensure that calcium is properly utilized (i.e., that it is ending up in the bones and not in the heart and blood vessels). Vitamin K2 keeps calcium in bones and teeth and out of soft tissues
Our Vegan ADK combines two highly bioavailable forms of Vitamin A: Palmitate (active form) and Beta Carotene (precursor form) that have been micellized into extremely small droplets that may promote superior absorption. Vitamin A is an important nutrient for vision, immune system function, bone and cartilage development, and the maintenance and repair of epithelial tissue. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails, poor bone growth, and weak immunity.
Because magnesium is essential to vitamin D's absorption, it is important to also supplement with a bioavailable form of magnesium at a different time of day than vitamin D. Magnesium is also responsible for over 300 functions in the body including bone development.
Our Optimum Magnesium contains two bioavailable forms of magnesium, magnesium glycinate and malate, which are gentle on the digestive system.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201102142242.htm
https://americanpregnancy.org/health-fitness/vitamin-d-and-pregnancy-4915
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/103/6/1514/4626755
https://indianewengland.com/2020/11/high-vitamin-d-pregnancy-linked-to-greater-child-iq-study/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5585545/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222336/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6127214/