University of Southampton Study Links Prenatal Vitamin D to Lasting Bone Strength in Children

University of Southampton Study Links Prenatal Vitamin D to Lasting Bone Strength in Children

(IN BRIEF) New research led by the University of Southampton shows that children whose mothers took vitamin D supplements during pregnancy have stronger bones at age seven. Part of the MAVIDOS trial, the study found that these children had higher bone mineral density, benefiting from increased calcium and mineral content. This follows previous findings of enhanced bone health at age four and adds to evidence supporting prenatal vitamin D as a public health strategy. Funded by organizations including Versus Arthritis and the Medical Research Council, the study highlights vitamin D’s role in promoting long-term bone health.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOUTHAMPTON, 7-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Research from the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton (UHS) reveals that children whose mothers took additional vitamin D during pregnancy continue to benefit from stronger bones well into mid-childhood. According to the findings, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, children born to mothers who received vitamin D supplements show greater bone mineral density at age seven, indicating improved calcium and mineral content, which can reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.

Dr. Rebecca Moon, NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Southampton, led the analysis, emphasizing the long-lasting benefits of prenatal vitamin D supplementation. “Our study highlights that vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy offers a valuable public health intervention, strengthening bones and potentially decreasing the risk of bone-related conditions in later life,” she stated.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in managing calcium and phosphate levels in the body, essential for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. This study is part of the broader MAVIDOS trial, which began in 2009, enrolling over 1,000 pregnant women from Southampton, Oxford, and Sheffield. The trial randomly assigned participants to either receive an additional 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily or a placebo, with neither the participants nor the healthcare providers aware of the allocations.

Earlier analyses had already shown improved bone health in children at four years of age among those born to mothers who had taken vitamin D supplements. This recent follow-up with 454 children at six to seven years old confirms that these benefits extend further into childhood.

The study is part of extensive work conducted by the University’s MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRC LEC) and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Previous findings from the MAVIDOS trial revealed other potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, such as lower risks of atopic eczema in infants and a higher likelihood of natural childbirth.

Professor Nicholas Harvey, Director of the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and project lead, expressed gratitude to the participants, noting, “These results significantly enhance our understanding of vitamin D’s role in supporting lifelong bone health. We are deeply thankful to the mothers and children who participated in this trial and contributed to this essential research.”

The study received funding from Versus Arthritis, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the Bupa Foundation.

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SOURCE: University of Southampton