Vitamin D is an important nutrient in the body as it plays a large role in bone and muscle health, as well as immune system support.
Past studies also show that vitamin D may help alleviate symptoms of depression, and could help lower the risk of certain chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and dementia.
Now, a new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open has found that taking a high dose of vitamin D3 during pregnancy may help set the offspring up for better cognitive health by age 10.
There are two types of vitamin D — vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. For this study, researchers focused on vitamin D3, which is either synthesized in the human body through sunlight exposure, or absorbed from certain foods like fatty fish, cod liver oil, egg yolks, and foods fortified with vitamin D.
Researchers conducted a second analysis of findings from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 randomized clinical trial, which took place 2009-2010, and included 700 mother-child pairs from Denmark.
During pregnancy, mother participants had taken either a high-dose of 2,800 International Units per day (IU/d) or standard-dose (400 IU/d) vitamin D3 supplement from week 24 to their first week postpartum.
Scientists assessed the cognitive function of almost 500 children from the original study when they reached age 10 using part of the Copenhagen Prospective Study on Neuro-Psychiatric Development (COPSYCH), which tests 11 different cognitive functions, such as spatial working memory, motor speed, sustained attention, and reaction time.
At the study’s conclusion, researchers found a positive association between high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy to a child’s visual memory, verbal memory, and flexibility by age 10.
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Medical News Today had the opportunity to speak with Sheryl Ross, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and Women’s Health Expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this study.
Ross, who was not involved in the research, commented that seeing this new study makes her even more excited about the superpowers of vitamin D, which has always behaved more than just a typical vitamin.
“Vitamin D has always gone above and beyond bone, muscle, and immune support as a vitamin,” Ross detailed. “Its collateral health benefits of potentially preventing chronic diseases, cognitive decline, dementia, and depression for people is exciting, especially if some of the cognitive benefits are being passed onto the baby.“
“More research on how vitamin D can help the cognitive health of the baby is needed,“ she cautioned, “but this initial study is an exciting beginning.”
Ross explained that:
“Vitamin D receptors are all over the body including the memory center, called the hippocampus, in the brain. It also has a role in developing neurons, dopamine and serotonin production, anti-inflammatory protection, and defending against oxidative stress that can negatively affect brain function. Having adequate Vitamin D levels helps support memory, learning, and cognitive functioning. It makes sense that in the developing brain of a baby, having adequate vitamin D levels support overall cognitive functioning.”
“This study was the perfect segway to make the connection between adequate maternal vitamin D levels and improved long-term cognitive functioning for developing babies,” she noted.
“More research could be done introducing a diversified patient cohort, longer-term follow-up beyond 10 years, monitoring vitamin D levels prior to pregnancy and using advanced brain imaging (MRI) on the developing baby to identify areas of the brain most responsive to vitamin D,” suggested the ob-gyn.
Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, offered some expert tips on how best to increase vitamin D3 intake during pregnancy.
“Vitamin D continues to be one of the most common nutrient insufficiencies I see as an RDN,” Richard said.
“Food-first recommendations remain an important priority, but it can be difficult to obtain adequate vitamin D from food alone depending on the dietary pattern, access and body’s ability to absorb, convert and use,” she noted.
She listed out some of the best food sources for vitamin D, which include:
“Many of these foods are also rich in fatty acids, vitamin C, choline, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins that further support maternal and child health by supporting brain function, cell reproduction and development, immune system support, and more,” Richard explained.
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“From a practical nutrition standpoint, consistency matters most — along with individualized testing and recommendations from a healthcare professional,“ she added.
“If supplements are suggested, the brand, source, quality of the product, form and delivery method as well as dose, frequency, duration and timing — […] when these are taken, with what and when during the day — are equally important to address and be done in collaboration with the RDN and healthcare team,” Richard advised.
“A balanced approach includes sensible sun exposure when appropriate, vitamin D-rich foods, fortified foods, and supplements, if, and as needed — with reassessment and big picture evaluation being followed — particularly for higher-risk groups or those with documented insufficiency,” she emphasized.
