Sunshine Vitamin Essential For Pregnant Women
December 28th 2007
Vitamin D deficiency is triggering serious problems in infants, British health officials warned today. Problems such as seizures and rickets are on the rise because pregnant and breastfeeding women produce less vitamin D in winter months.
A new government warning suggests that as many as one in 100 children in ethnic minority groups may develop rickets, as people with darker skin do not absorb as much sunlight.
Health experts say that during winter people rely on body stores and dietary intake to maintain adequate vitamin D.
"In winter months at latitudes of 52 degrees north (above Birmingham), there is no ultraviolet light of the appropriate wavelength for the body to make vitamin D in the skin," says a department of health press release.
Dr Colin Michie of Ealing Hospital, UK, says: "We are seeing significant numbers of children with vitamin D deficiency. Mothers and babies are simply not getting enough of this important vitamin."
Good dietary sources include oily fish, eggs, fortified cereals and breads, but supplements may be necessary. In England, the NHS’s "Healthy Start" scheme provides free vitamins via GPs and health visitors.
Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, said: "The Healthy Start scheme is designed to improve the health of some of our most vulnerable families. We encourage people who are eligible to take advantage of the free vitamins, to minimise the risk of developing vitamin D deficiency and other conditions.
"We particularly encourage women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to take vitamin D, to protect the health and wellbeing of their baby and help them get the best possible start in life."
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