INTERVENTION:
Supplement with Vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
INTERVENTION GOAL:
To decrease risk of allergic disease in fetus/baby.
EVIDENCE supporting INTERVENTION:
A study of children found that Vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased risk of allergies. The lower the level of Vitamin D, the higher the risk of allergic disease.
Another study (VDAART), compared risk of allergies after vitamin D supplementation versus placebo in pregnant women. The study found that increased supplementation was associated with less allergic disease when the children were 3 years old.
POTENTIAL RISK:
No risks associated with Vitamin D supplementation.
INTERVENTION SPECIFICS:
1). We will check current vitamin D status with a blood test.
2) If Vitamin D level is normal, you will take 1000 IU per day for the remainder of the pregnancy
3) If Vitamin D level is low, you will receive specific instructions about the dose of Vitamin D based on your value.
4) If you decide to breast feed your baby, you will continue the vitamin D supplementation for the baby. If you decide to utilize formula, the formula will contain the appropriate amount of vitamin D.