Women with low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with language problems, Australian researchers say.
During the study which involved 743 women and their children, scientists measured vitamin D levels of mothers at their 18th week of pregnancy and followed their children’s emotional and behavioral health and also language skills till the age of 17.
The findings published in the journal Pediatrics disclosed that the children whose mothers had the lowest vitamin D level during the second trimester almost had a doubled risk of developing language problems.
The study highlighted the important role that vitamin D levels play especially during the second and third trimesters in the development of certain brain regions that are involved in language learning.
The period is also a critical time for development of brain pathways and structures that have a key role in forming a baby’s emotion and behavior.
The study couldn’t show that mother’s vitamin D deficiency can directly cause language problems in their babies but provided further evidence supporting that receiving low levels of the nutrient in womb may affect language learning when a child reaches school age.
Researchers conclude that “maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developmental language difficulties among their children."
The recommendation could be applied especially to mothers who fail to receive sufficient amounts of the nutrient through their diet or enough sun exposure, which is crucial for activation of vitamin D in the body.
Vitamin D may be obtained with a well-balanced diet, including various types of fish, soymilk, broccoli, egg, liver, cheese, butter and fortified milk and cereals. It is recommended people get 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week.
SJM/TE