Pregnant women who are deficient in vitamin D are more likely to need a Caesarean, according to the latest study from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Centre, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

 

Researchers checked the blood levels of vitamin D in pregnant women. In total 253 women were enrolled in the study, of whom 17% had a Caesarean section. Some 28 per cent of women with low levels of vitamin D had to have a surgical delivery compared with 14 percent of women with high levels. The researchers also believe there may be a clear link between lack of vitamin D and the pregnancy disorder pre-eclampsia, which requires immediate delivery of the baby and usually involves Caesarean section. The reason vitamin D deficiency causes problems in childbirth are unknown, but it may be related to the fact that lack of vitamin D is linked to poor muscle strength.

 

Other studies have shown a link between lower levels of vitamin D and a higher risk of cancer, joint pains, heart disease, diabetes and, of course, osteoporosis. Fatty fish, such as mackerel and salmon, is a good source of vitamin D and so are egg yolks. One of the most beneficial sources is the manufacture of vitamin D through the skin from exposure to sunlight. 

 

Testing vitamin D is done with a simple blood test and if you are deficient then you would supplement with vitamin D for three months, then re-test to make sure that the level is back to normal. If you would like to be tested for vitamin D deficiency then do contact my clinic on 0870 5329244 or go to www.marilynglenville.com. 

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 1st, 2009 at 2:50 am and is filed under In the News, Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.