Researchers from the University of Southampton have found that Vitamin D could increase the chances of a natural delivery. Their study, published in the Journal of Public Health, emphasises the value of good nutrition and supplementation during pregnancy. Here is a closer look at the findings and their implications.
To understand how vitamin D can help in pregnancy, the researchers analysed results from the Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (MAVIDOS) trial, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 965 pregnant women and aims to gain insight into the various benefits of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy. In the MAVIDOS trial, each participant was randomly allocated either an extra 1,000 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D a day or a placebo.
Upon analysis, the researchers found that 65.6% of the women who took the extra vitamin D gave birth naturally (defined as a spontaneous vaginal birth). In the placebo group, only 57.9% of the women had a natural birth.
Furthermore, a higher percentage of women who took the placebo (19.4%) had an assisted delivery, requiring the use of forceps and ventouse suction, compared to just 13.2% of the vitamin D group. The percentage of women needing a caesarean, however, was similar in both groups – 21.3% (vitamin D) and 22.7% (placebo).
This new research was led by Dr Rebecca Moon. Dr Moon is a clinical lecturer at the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre (MRC LEC), the University of Southampton, and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. She said: “Most women want to have a ‘natural delivery’ of their baby. Our work suggests that taking extra vitamin D during their pregnancy might help them to achieve this.”
She also noted that the women taking vitamin D had less blood loss after delivery, which further demonstrates that it provides mothers with vital benefits and “is so important.”
Previous trials that have been a part of the MAVIDOS study have suggested that vitamin D can help the mother and child in other ways. For instance, researchers from the university also found that vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy can help lower the risk of the baby developing atopic eczema and can improve the child’s bone health.
Vitamin D is essential for good health. By regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, vitamin D keeps bones, teeth, and muscles strong and healthy. Good sources include egg yolks, oily fish, and fortified foods such as cereals. The skin will also absorb vitamin D from direct sunlight. Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends women take 400 IU, or 10 micrograms, of vitamin D a day. However, most people struggle to get this daily amount from food alone. That is why supplementation is often necessary.
As Professor Nicholas Harvey, the director of the MRC LEC and lead of MAVIDOS, said, “Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the UK. We have also shown that extra vitamin D in pregnancy can improve the mother’s vitamin D level and has benefits to their child’s skeleton.” So, it’s important to think about how to get enough vitamin D during pregnancy.
If you would like more information on vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, speak to your healthcare provider. You can also find out more about supplementation during pregnancy by reading Dr Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard’s articles on vitamin B3 and folic acid.