New vitamin D alert to pregnant women in Scotland

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 18/08/2012 02:33

TOO many women in Scotland are failing to heed expert medical advice on using vitamin D supplements while they are pregnant, according to research.

The failure is leading to very low levels of the essential vitamin being found in some mothers and newborn babies, particularly in winter – with mothers from poor areas at greater risk.

The researchers, led by Professor Paul Haggarty at Aberdeen University’s Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, are recommending that more should be done to improve uptake of advice on vitamin D supplements.

They also suggest that promoting safe sun exposure and access to green spaces in summer could be a useful additional strategy.

Professor Haggarty said: “We need women to take vitamin D supplements during pregnancy, particularly women from more deprived backgrounds.”