The Importance of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy

Often called the "sunshine vitamin," vitamin D is amazing for our overall health. However, thanks to the good old British weather, many people in the UK are deficient in this vital nutrient - including pregnant women 

Understanding the importance of vitamin D during pregnancy and knowing the best type of supplement to take can help to support you and your baby’s health. So let’s get into it… 

Vitamin D deficiency in the UK

Because vitamin D comes from the sun, it’s no surprise that many of us In the UK are deficient in it (especially during those long, old winter months). Lack of sunshine reduces our bodies’ ability to produce sufficient vitamin D naturally. This deficiency becomes even more significant during pregnancy, when you need extra nutrients to support your growing baby.

Why vitamin D is so important during pregnancy

Vitamin D helps with lots of bodily functions, here’s why it’s so important during pregnancy: 

Bone health

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, which helps your baby to develop strong bones and teeth. It also helps to support your own bone density while you’re sharing your nutrients with your little one.

Source:uptodate.com,Calcium and vitamin D supplementation in osteoporosis

Immune system support

Vitamin D strengthens the immune system, helping both you and baby keep illness at bay.

Source:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,Vitamin D and the Immune System

Mood regulation 

Vitamin D is linked to mood and mental health. Making sure you have good vitamin D levels while you’re pregnant can help to prevent prenatal and postnatal depression.

Source:webmd.com,What to Know About Vitamin D and Mental Health

Reduced risk of complications

Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is linked to complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and low birth weight. So making sure you get enough vitamin D can help to reduce these risks.

Source:journals.sagepub.com, Vitamin D and preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Brain development

Vitamin D helps to support the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.

Source:ubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Vitamin D in fetal brain development

Why vitamin D3 is the best supplement

When it comes to supplementation, vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol) is the most effective form of vitamin D. Here’s why it’s the only form we use here at Nurture:

Better absorption

Vitamin D3 is more efficiently absorbed and used by the body compared to vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). This means that vitamin D3 is more effective in raising and maintaining good levels of vitamin D in the blood.

Natural form

Vitamin D3 is the same form of vitamin D that the body produces when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It’s more natural and closer to what our bodies are designed to use.

Longer lasting

Vitamin D3 stays in the body longer than D2, providing a more sustained source of the vitamin.

How much vitamin D do pregnant women need?

The NHS recommends that everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D - particularly during those gloomy months from October to early March. 

However, many experts believe the guidelines are far too low and point out that there may have been a statistical error in the data originally used to estimate the recommended dietary allowance.

Source:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,The Big Vitamin D Mistake

Source:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,A Statistical Error in the Estimation of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Vitamin D

Your vitamin D needs depend on a variety of factors, including your age, skin colour, current blood vitamin D levels, location and sun exposure. To reach blood levels linked to better health outcomes, many studies have shown that you need to consume more vitamin D than the guidelines recommend.

Source:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov,Vitamin D supplementation: less controversy, more guidance needed

We take the guesswork away for you. Because at Nurture, it’s always personal. Through our at-home testing, we provide tailored support for expecting mums. Using your blood test analysis to choose the right strength of vitamin D for you (either 50ug or 100ug) then creating a NurtureMulti® supplement specifically for you and your baby. All helping to ensure a healthier pregnancy and a brighter start for your infant. Take our short food & lifestyle questionnaire to get started today.