According to a Keck School of Medicine of USC-led study, Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women could pre-programme babies to grow into obese children and adults.
Researchers found that 6-year-olds born to mothers with very low vitamin D levels during their first trimester had bigger waists – about half an inch plumper on average – than peers whose mothers had enough vitamin D in early pregnancy. These kids also had 2 percent more body fat.
A newborn’s vitamin D status mostly depends on mom. So infants are at risk of vitamin D deficiency if their mothers are vitamin D deficient or are close to it.
About 95 percent of the vitamin D produced in your body comes from sunshine. The remaining 5 percent is derived from eggs, fatty fish, fish liver oil and fortified foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt and cereal.
The federal government has not set a recommended daily intake of vitamin D, though many agree the dietary intake of the vitamin should increase with age.