Want your child to be smarter? Vitamin D during pregnancy might help
Taking increased doses of vitamin D during pregnancy may be linked to better memory in children aged 10. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from Denmark. However, experts call for restraint in evaluations and await further trials.
As reported by Daily Mail, a study by scientists from the University of Copenhagen showed a possible link between taking increased doses of vitamin D during pregnancy and children's cognitive abilities in the future.
Within a clinical experiment, specialists observed two groups of expectant mothers. The first group took a standard dose of vitamin D of 10 mcg (400 international units), while the second received an increased dose — 70 mcg (2800 international units).
In total, about 500 women participated in the project. When their children reached the age of 10, they were offered a series of memory tests. Analysis of the obtained data showed that children of mothers who took the increased dose of the vitamin, on average, performed slightly better on the tasks than their peers whose mothers received the standard dose.
Professor of Obstetrics at King's College London, Andrew Shennan, noted in an interview with the publication that these results are consistent with earlier observations in animal studies. However, the scientist urged not to draw hasty conclusions.
He emphasized that this analysis was not the primary goal of the experiment and was conducted after the main results had been obtained. This means that the observed link might be coincidental and requires confirmation. If similar conclusions are confirmed in other studies in the future, they could have significant implications for public health.
Other specialists draw attention to the fact that most participants in the study had normal vitamin D levels even before the start of the experiment. Therefore, the obtained results may not be relevant for people with a severe deficiency of this substance.
Furthermore, the recorded difference in memory indicators was quite modest, which does not provide grounds to assert a significant increase in children's intellectual level solely due to vitamin supplements.
Specialists insist that expectant mothers should adhere to existing advice and consult a doctor before any change in medication dosage, as the question of the optimal amount of vitamins for cognitive development requires further study.
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