Results of a recent study suggest that mom’s vitamin D status during pregnancy enhances the neurocognitive development of their offspring. This study showed that pregnant women with low serum levels of Vitamin D (<46nmol/L) had a 2-fold higher risk of having a child with language difficulties compared with pregnant women whose vitamin D levels were greater than 70 nmol/L.

Interestingly, most labs mark deficiency at under 30nmol/L. So you could be just above 30nmol/L (but less then 46nmol) and still be told you have adequate Vitamin D stores. I see this a lot in my practice. Women will be told that their Vitamin D levels are great- but they’re barely above 30nmol/L.  There are many known advantages of having adequate Vitamin D levels, such as heart health, cancer protection, hormonal balance, asthma protection and mood. This is probably one of the easiest deficiencies to correct. Vitamin D levels are easy to check for (serum 25(OH) Vitamin D) and easy to supplement with- small, easy to swallow, very affordable capsules. Most pregnant women need to be on a daily dose of at least 5000IU of Vitamin D3/day in order to maintain levels of 70nmol/L and receive these potential neurocognitive advantages.