Vitamin D in pregnancy increases children's strength

Children are more likely to be stronger if their mother had lots of vitamin D in their body during pregnancy, scientists have found.

Experts at the University of Southampton discovered that youngsters’ grip strength and muscle mass grew with higher vitamin D levels in the pregnant mother.

Low levels have been linked to reduced muscle strength, but this is the first time a study has shown how a mother’s levels during pregnancy affects her child.

Vitamin D levels are low in lots of young women across the UK. Pregnant women are recommended to take an additional 10g/day of vitamin D, but do not always take it up.

Senior lecturer Dr Nicholas Harvey said: “These associations between maternal vitamin D and offspring muscle strength may well have consequences for later health.

“Muscle strength peaks in young adulthood before declining in older age and low grip strength in adulthood has been associated with poor health outcomes including diabetes, falls and fractures.”

Prof Cyrus Cooper, professor of rheumatology at the University of Southampton, added: “This work should help us to design interventions aimed at optimising body composition in childhood and later adulthood and thus improve the health of future generations.”