- Seychelles = SAY-SHELLS: A small Island group East of Africa, 5 degrees South Latitude
- "In the current study, we observed no associations of maternal 25(OH)D with any birth outcome” - even 5 years later
- Few smokers, no polution to decrease Vitamin D Levels
- Lots of sun and fish to increase the levels - Most had > 40 ng of Vitamin D
- < 1% Muslim = no excessive clothing to block Vitamin D from the sun
- “98% had sufficient vitamin D status (>50 nmol/L) at delivery”
- ” However, we observed no associations (positive or adverse) of maternal 25(OH)D concentrations (up to 218 nmol/L) with the infant’s birth weight, head circumference, or their neurocognitive outcomes at 5 years of age.”
- “It is possible that once a certain 25(OH)D concentration has been reached (~50 nmol/L) at a specific pregnancy time-point, higher concentrations have no further effect on anthropometric or neurocognitive measures until one reaches toxicity, which can then cause hypercalcemia, nausea and weakness”
Many other studies have found problems with pregnancies with < 30 ng level of vitamin D.
This study found no problems associated with 40-80 ng of vitamin D
This suggests a goal of having more than 40 ng will result in healthy pregnancies and infants
Mild termperatures the year around (cooled by ocean breezes)
- very little need for air conditioning or need to stay indoors to escape the heat
Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D has the following summary
Problem | Reduces | Evidence |
| 0. Chance of not conceiving | 3.4 times | Observe |
| 1. Miscarriage | 2.5 times | Observe |
| 2. Pre-eclampsia | 3.6 times | RCT |
| 3. Gestational Diabetes | 3 times | RCT |
| 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality | 3.5 times | Observe |
| 5. Premature birth | 2 times | RCT |
| 6. C-section - unplanned | 1.6 times | Observe |
| Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 | 4 times | RCT - Omega-3 |
| 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy | 1.4 times | RCT |
| 8. Small for Gestational Age | 1.6 times | meta-analysis |
| 9. Infant height, weight, head size within normal limits | RCT | |
| 10. Childhood Wheezing | 1.3 times | RCT |
| 11. Additional child is Autistic | 4 times | Intervention |
| 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis | 1.9 times | Observe |
| 13. Preeclampsia in young adult | 3.5 times | RCT |
| 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 | 1.4 times | Observe |
| 15. Childhood Mite allergy | 5 times | RCT |
| 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits | 2.5 times | RCT |
RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
Maternal Vitamin D Status and the Relationship with Neonatal Anthropometric and Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: Results from the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study
Nutrients 2017, 9,1235; doi:10.3390/nu9111235
Eamon Laird 1 , Sally W. Thurston 2, Edwin van Wijngaarden 2, Conrad F. Shamlaye 3, Gary J. Myers 2 , Philip W. Davidson 2, Gene E. Watson 2, Emeir M. McSorley 4, Maria S. Mulhern 4 , Alison J. Yeates 4 , Mary Ward 4, Helene McNulty 4 and J. J. Strain 4,* y
Abstract: Vitamin D has an important role in early life; however, the optimal vitamin D status during pregnancy is currently unclear. There have been recent calls for pregnant women to maintain circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations >100 nmol/L for health, yet little is known about the long-term potential benefits or safety of achieving such high maternal 25(OH)D concentrations for infant or child health outcomes. We examined maternal vitamin D status and its associations with infant anthropometric and later childhood neurocognitive outcomes in a mother-child cohort in a sun-rich country near the equator (4.6° S). This study was conducted in pregnant mothers originally recruited to the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study. Blood samples (n = 202) taken at delivery were analysed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. Multiple linear regression models assessed associations between maternal 25(OH)D and birth weight, infant head circumference, and neurocognitive outcomes in the children at age 5 years. Mothers were, on average, 27 years of age, and the children's average gestational age was 39 weeks. None of the women reported any intake of vitamin D supplements. Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations had a mean of 101 (range 34-218 nmol/L) and none were deficient (<30 nmol/L). Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were not associated with child anthropometric or neurodevelopmental outcomes. These findings appear to indicate that a higher vitamin D status is not a limiting factor for neonatal growth or neurocognitive development in the first 5 years of life. Larger studies with greater variability in vitamin D status are needed to further explore optimal cut-offs or non-linear associations (including for maternal health) that might exist among populations with sub-optimal exposure.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we observed nearly universal vitamin D sufficiency among a cohort of mothers living near the equator, reflecting the 25(OH)D concentrations which are achievable during pregnancy without seasonality. At relatively high, un-supplemented 25(OH)D concentrations, we did not observe any associations with birth outcomes or neurodevelopmental tests administered to the offspring at age 5 years. These findings appear to indicate that having a high vitamin D status is not a limiting factor for neonatal growth or neurocognitive development in the first 5 years of life. This lack of any observations of adverse effects on infant or child growth could be advantageous for pregnant women who maintain higher 25(OH)D concentrations for maternal health. However, further research is needed to identify either any currently undetected adverse health effects of attaining such high 25(OH)D maternal concentrations and also the potential wider health benefits for both maternal and child health.