Interested in which Vitamin D is best to take during pregnancy? Or unsure about the right dosage? Do you fully understand the benefits and importance of this micronutrient? In this article, we will discuss why almost every pregnant woman should take Vitamin D and the negative consequences that a deficiency of this micronutrient can lead to.
Vitamin D during pregnancy plays a special role. It also affects a woman’s fertility, regulation of the menstrual cycle, and body formation. Therefore, doctors recommend maintaining normal levels of the micronutrient at each stage: preparation for conception, pregnancy, and lactation.
A deficiency of Vitamin D during pregnancy is associated with the risk of developing preeclampsia. In other words, there may be arterial hypertension accompanied by proteinuria. There is also a risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Vitamin D should be taken throughout the entire term of pregnancy.
If the expectant mother takes the substance in the required amount, the child will accumulate it and use it during the first 6 months of life. Therefore, the dosage plays a significant role and must be strictly observed. The content of trace elements in the baby’s body directly depends on how much the expectant mother took during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, Vitamin D should be within the following recommended range: 15 micrograms per day or 600 IU. For breastfeeding mothers, the norm is 30 micrograms per day or 1200 IU.
There are also many other prenatal vitamins that can be taken.
In the 1st trimester, the fetus is developing most of its organs and body systems. The collagen matrix is also being laid in the skeleton. In the 2nd trimester, skeletal calcification occurs, leading to a significant increase in calcium requirements.
If the vitamin D intake is not maintained during pregnancy, it can lead to serious complications. Bone mineral density decreases up to the development of osteoporosis, and gestational diabetes may occur. If there is a pronounced D-deficiency and the pregnant woman receives less than 800 IU per day, there will be no preventive effect.
Therefore, if the question arises about whether vitamin D can be taken during pregnancy, it is worth consulting a doctor. They will prescribe tests to determine the level of the substance, its deficiency, and norms. For almost all pregnant women, it is advisable to take 4000-5000 IU per day. This will help avoid adverse outcomes.
Vitamin D3 during pregnancy is considered a trace element responsible for women’s health. Its consumption in the female body is much higher than in the male body. This is due to the functions of the female body. Therefore, at various stages of life, the need for this substance in the body may increase. For this reason, it is necessary not only to monitor the level of calciferol but also to prevent its deficiency or excess.
Vitamin D during pregnancy is extremely necessary because it provides the following benefits:
Thus, the benefits of this microelement are hard to underestimate. It should only be taken into account that vitamin D should be taken in lower doses in early pregnancy compared to later stages.
Among pregnant women, vitamin D deficiency is quite common. The level of this substance plays a crucial role in the formation of the fetus and its development. There is a direct and very close relationship between the level of vitamin D in the mother’s blood and in the fetus’s blood. Therefore, if a pregnant woman has a pronounced vitamin D deficiency, there is a 90% probability that it will also be present in the child.
In the most severe forms, the deficiency can lead to significant consequences, including intrauterine rickets. If the deficiency of the microelement is mild, it is easily compensated. However, it is important to be aware of all potential risks: the negative impact on the development of the fetal immune system, infectious diseases, and immune dysfunction in the future.
Functions of vitamin D during pregnancy:
The level of the substance has a long-term impact on the child’s health. Numerous epidemiological studies confirm the fact that vitamin D affects the risks of diseases with a long latent period — cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus.
Quite often, during pregnancy, women start taking vitamin complexes, synthesized D3 in the form of medications. It should be taken into account that it is fat-soluble and is difficult to eliminate from the body. As a result of prolonged overdose (from 10,000 IU and above), the substance reaches a level of toxicity within a few days. Its excess can also lead to negative consequences.
Hypersensitivity to this substance can also provoke an excess. Women should not worry about developing an excess from spending too much time in the sun. Hypervitaminosis can occur in two stages:
Increased vitamin D levels during pregnancy can lead to frequent colds, arrhythmia, hypertension, and liver enlargement. Therefore, the dosage is prescribed by a doctor only after the blood test results are obtained. If long-term intake is recommended, the expectant mother should be under constant supervision.
Vitamin D deficiency is observed in 75% of the world’s population. The lack of this substance in a woman’s body can be caused by:
In these cases, the daily dosage value may be slightly higher than in standard situations. In any case, you should focus on three factors: test results, overall well-being, and the recommendations of your treating physician.
The risk group (patients who must take vitamin D) includes women with chronic kidney/liver failure, bone diseases, obesity, and tuberculosis. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can be recognized by several symptoms: increased brittleness of nails and hair, excessive sweating, and muscle weakness.
The need for this micronutrient can also be identified by factors such as poor sleep quality, rapid fatigue, tendency to depression, and constant mood swings. Vitamin D deficiency is especially dangerous for pregnant women in the first trimester. The deficiency disrupts phosphorus-calcium metabolism, leading to diseases like osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Additionally, the risk of cancer increases. If vitamin D is not taken in the required dosage, it can lead to an adverse outcome in pregnancy.
Vitamin D is found in foods such as fatty fish, liver, egg yolk, and some grains. The substance is also synthesized in the body when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. To get the required amount of the microelement, it is recommended to be in the sun at least twice a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Insufficient intake of vitamin D from food can be compensated by supplements or vitamin-mineral complexes. However, it is preferable to obtain the “natural” substance as it is better absorbed from food.
Vitamin D during pregnancy affects the condition of the expectant mother and her child. Its deficiency leads to unpleasant consequences that negatively impact the body. The substance is highly beneficial, but it’s important to know the correct dosage and duration. Only the attending physician, based on test results, can provide this information.
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