A new study says that higher intake of Vitamin D during pregnancy could reduce risks of childhood allergies in children. The study also found that Vitamin D from natural sources was more effective than was Vitamin D from supplements.
The study, conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Researchers found that nutrient sources were as important as nutritional intake during pregnancy.
A prospective study of 1,248 mothers and their children in the United States from the first trimester of pregnancy until seven years of age for the child was conducted.
Higher intake of foods with high Vitamin D content was associated with lower risks of childhood allergy after birth. The risk reduction was not seen if the Vitamin D was taken by supplement rather than through food consumption. The equivalent amount taken was equal to that found in an eight-ounce glass of milk.