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Studying Vitamin D

The Connection Between Vitamin D and Pre-eclampsia

By Teri Brown

According to Collins, a vitamin D deficiency can also cause other complications. "If a woman is deficient in vitamin D, she is at risk for developing osetomalcia, which literally means soft bones," Collins says. "Her new baby will also be at risk of developing rickets, which is a softening of the baby's bones. Since the fetus' level of vitamin D is dependent upon its mother's vitamin D level, a deficiency in the mother could obviously affect the fetus in a negative way. Though uncommon in the U.S., it is still seen."

Our bodies actually produce vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Collins suggests that five to 15 minutes, two to three times a day of sun exposure, with the hands, arms and face exposed to sunlight, will help produce adequate vitamin D.

"For women who are not regularly exposed to sunlight, or who work indoors all day, etc., they may not be producing enough," Collins says. "There are foods higher in vitamin D and those include salmon, sardines, shrimp, milk, cod and eggs. Cod liver oil, fish oil and some breads/cereals may be enriched with vitamin D. [Vitamin D is] also found in green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes."

According to current medical wisdom, a pregnant woman should be obtaining at least 400 IU per day, but the Pittsburgh study shows that more is needed. "Our research and others' research has shown that the vitamin D (200-400 IU/d) in a prenatal or multivitamin is not enough to prevent vitamin D deficiency," Dr. Bodnar says. "Experts believe that pregnant women need at least 1,000 IU/d to prevent deficiency. Most people cannot get this amount through food sources and would need to take a supplement."

Want to see more?

• Managing Pre-eclampsia
• Tackling Toxemia: Toxemia Is a Common Pregnancy Disorder
• Smart Supplements: A Look at Prenatal Vitamins
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!