Pregnant women Should consume much more Vitamin D, according to a study
According to a new study, “Pregnant women could -- and probably should -- consume 10 times more vitamin D than experts currently recommend.” (Denise Mann, 5/1, CNN).
This study interestingly contradicts medical advice that has persisted for decades. Doctors have cautioned pregnant women that consuming too much vitamin D could potentially cause birth defects. For example, “under current guidelines anything over 2,000 IU per day is still considered potentially unsafe for anyone, not just pregnant women.” However, the new study suggests that much Vitamin D is “not only safe during pregnancy, but doubling it may actually reduce the risk of complications.”
Of course, pregnant women should never change their vitamin intake without consulting their physicians. One potential shortcoming is that the study looked only at women in their second trimester and beyond, and since organs are formed in the first trimester, it is not clear if higher dosages of Vitamin D would be dangerous at earlier stages. Although this research is not conclusively established yet, new guidelines regarding Vitamin D intake during pregnancy are expected to be announced this summer. As a medical malpractice attorney, I am intrigued by the results of this study, but feel as though further study is likely warranted before any drastic changes to pregnancy guidelines are promulgated.
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