Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy linked to increased body length of offspring at birth

Prenatal vitamin D supplementation has been linked to longer humeral lengths (HL) in the uterus, longer babies at delivery, and greater 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood, says an article published in PLOS ONE Journal.

There is debate about whether taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy is good for the development of the fetus and the bones. Furthermore, there isn't a consensus worldwide on the right dosage or when to start taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy. Ting Luo and colleagues set out to carefully examine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone formation and child growth throughout pregnancy.

In order to find relevant research on the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on bone development and child growth from conception to May 22, 2022, a literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out in seven electronic databases. For quality evaluation, a Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool was utilized. Comparisons were made between vitamin D pills and placebos or regular supplements. The effects are shown as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals. The results include length, weight, and head circumference; secondary outcome measures; and biochemical indicators of bone health, such as the serum 25(OH)D concentration. The outcomes also include bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), femur length (FL), bone area (BA), and humeral length. In order to assess the effects of various vitamin D supplementation doses and starting points, subgroup analyses were also performed.