Living in Northern Canada, I feel like I am constantly talking about Vitamin D. The importance of this super vitamin, however, is not limited simply to women who are living above the 60th parallel! From improving infant immune function (including decreased asthma risk) and decreasing risk of gestational diabetes and infant adiposity, to building optimal bone density in infants, the well-documented benefits lead me to recommend Vitamin D supplementation for all my pregnant patients.
During pregnancy, I routinely recommend the upper limit for Vitamin D – which has been identified as 4,000 IU per day. However, new research has highlighted the importance of increasing this dose to 6,000IU per day during lactation as a safe and effective was to elevate milk Vitamin D delivery to the mother’s baby.
Given the numerous benefits to both mom and babe of building adequate Vitamin D stores during pregnancy and lactation, and Vitamin D’s role as a preprohormone with impacts on post-partum depression and hormone balancing, this new dosing guideline is one I will be adopting!
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:
Daraki, V. et al. (2018). Low maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy increases the risk of childhood obesity. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.
Hollis, B. and Wagner, C. (2018). Vitamin D in Pregnancy and Lactation: A New Paradigm. Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham.
Hollis, B. (2011). Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and effectiveness. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 26(12).
Holmes, V. (2009). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women: a longitudinal study. British Journal of Nutrition, 102: 876-881.