Pregnant women who take vitamin D can prevent a respiratory illness in newborns called RSV according to a new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics, May, 2011.
The study suggests that out of the five-million RSV cases every year in the United States, a million fewer kids would get the respiratory virus if more pregnant moms took vitamin D supplements.
“Right now in this study they quote it as 400 international units — so the same as for a newborn child. Although, there have been studies that have shown up to 4,000 international units,” Blackburn said.
The study found that infants who were born with Vitamin D3 levels higher than 75 were 6 times less likely to get RSV in the first year of life.
“Vitamin D deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with increased risk of RSV LRTI in the first year of life,” the study authors write. “Intensified routine vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may be a useful strategy to prevent RSV LRTI during infancy.”
I have vitamin D3 here in my office that is a good quality. I can help you figure out how much to take.