Prenatal calcium and vitamin D intake, and bone mass in later life.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the influence of maternal calcium and vitamin D status during pregnancy on offspring bone development.
Results Summary
The abstract suggests that maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D concentration has a stronger positive influence on intrauterine skeletal growth than calcium intake, but high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed for definitive conclusions.
Population
Pregnant women and their offspring.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
maternal calcium intake during pregnancy | increase | intrauterine skeletal growth | offspring | - | positive influence | #1 |
maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D concentration during pregnancy | increase | intrauterine skeletal growth | offspring | - | positive influence | #2 |
vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy | increase | offspring bone health | offspring | - | optimal strategy | #3 |
The aging population will result in an increasing burden of osteoporotic fractures, necessitating the identification of novel strategies for prevention. There is increasing recognition that factors in utero may influence bone mineral accrual, and, thus, osteoporosis risk. The role of calcium and vitamin D has received much attention in recent years, and in this review, we will survey available studies relating maternal calcium and vitamin D status during pregnancy to offspring bone development. The evidence base supporting a positive influence on intrauterine skeletal growth appears somewhat stronger for maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D concentration than for calcium intake, and the available data point toward the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials in order to inform public health policy. It is only with such a rigorous approach that it will be possible to delineate the optimal strategy for vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy in relation to offspring bone health.