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If you are pregnant or breastfeeding at this time of the year, you better stock up on your vitamin D supplements. Sunlight exposure is a good source of vitamin D however, those of you living in the colder regions won’t be seeing much of it for the next few months because of the winter season. Occasional peeks from the sun may not provide the dosage of Vitamin D necessary to benefit pregnant women and women who are nursing.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and is produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B rays. It plays an important role in the maintenance of the body’s system. It regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood to maximize absorption in the body. It also promotes bone formation and helps in strengthening the body’s immune system.

There are very few foods which naturally contain significant amounts of vitamin D. These include fish liver oil, fatty fish oils which are found in salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna and eel, mushrooms and egg. Most of the dietary sources of vitamin D come in fortified form hence we have fortified milk, soy milk, cereals and the like.

The U.S. Department of Health strongly encourages pregnant and breastfeeding women to take Vitamin D supplements in the winter months to ensure that babies will not develop rickets or seizure. The Department has also noted a rise in the number of cases of Vitamin D deficiency among children in Asia, the Middle East, and in the Afro-Carribean regions. This is due to the fact that skin color also influences vitamin D absorption. The darker the skin, the less sunlight is absorbed. But fret not, the deficiency can also be remedied by taking Vitamin D supplements.

Tags: cereals, Department of Health, Milk, soy milk, Sunlight, Vitamin D