Does Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy Prevent Childhood Asthma?

In two trials, reduction in asthma incidence in the first 3 years was not significant but trended toward benefit.

Observational studies have yielded mixed results concerning the association of umbilical cord blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and reduced risk for asthma or recurrent wheezing in early childhood. In pregnant women, low circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are common. Based on such epidemiologic observations, two research groups explored the effects on early childhood asthma and wheezing of high-dose vitamin D administration to pregnant women.

In the first study, 806 pregnant U.S. women at high risk for having a child with asthma (based on histories of asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema in either parent) were randomized to receive 4400 IU or 400 IU of vitamin D daily starting at 10 to 18 weeks' gestation. Incidence of asthma or rec…

Reviewing Author

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Does Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy Prevent Childhood Asthma?

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Reviewing Author