Vitamin D is a super nutrient that serves a remarkably broad range of biological functions. The diversity of its benefits make it an important part of a woman’s health, during pregnancy and otherwise. I have dedicated many blog posts to Vitamin D’s role in healthy pregnancy – from preventing childhood asthma to promoting healthy vaginal flora. Vitamin D has also been long recognized to promote healthy glucose metabolism, and conversely, deficiency in Vitamin D increases the risk of insulin resistance and gestational diabetes in pregnant mothers.
Now, an interesting new study shows that Vitamin D deficiency doesn’t only affect mothers’ glucose metabolism, but also can lead to higher risk of insulin resistance in her child. This study from the St. Louis School of Medicine in Missouri suggests that under conditions of maternal Vitamin D deficiency, monocytes (a type of white blood cell) were programmed in utero to induce insulin resistance in the fetus, thus putting these offspring at risk for insulin resistance, a common precondition for diabetes, later in life as well.
During these summer months, it’s time to get out and absorb some healthy sun exposure, and for pregnant moms especially, to supplement with Vitamin D as well!
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
If you are hungry for more evidence-based information in your pregnancy, sign up for my free webinar: 7 Pregnancy Myths Debunked – and get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a thriving baby.
And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your pregnant patients, please get in touch with us at support@myhealthypregnancyplan.com.
In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
Disclaimer: The information and content provided is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Please consult the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for full details.
References:
McNerney, K. et al. (2019). Neonatal Vitamin D Deficiency and Insulin Resistance. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 3, Issue Supplement 1.