eileen

More womb sun 'makes healthier babies'

By staff writers
March 28, 2008 02:12pm
Article from:

BABIES are healthier if their mothers are pregnant with them over summer, according to research.

Researchers said babies with softer skulls were more likely to have been in the womb over winter - because their mothers lacked enough vitamin D, which is absorbed from sunlight.

Dr Tohru Yorifuji from the Kyoto University Hospital said his team’s study of more than 1100 newborns in Japanese hospitals revealed that pregnancies over winter could lead to problems in babies.

“Craniotabes, the softening of skull bones, in otherwise normal newborns has largely been regarded as a physiological condition without the need for treatment,” Dr Yorifuji said.

“Our findings, however, show that this untreated condition may be the result of a potentially dangerous vitamin D deficiency.”

In an article to be published in the May edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the researchers said 22 per cent of babies studied had craniotabes.

“The incidence was highest in (babies) born in April-May and lowest in those born in November,” the researchers said.

“Otherwise, the incidence of craniotabes was not significantly related with the maternal age, number of pregnancies, birth weight, or weeks of pregnancies.”

Dr Yorifuji said mothers should also be concerned about how much vitamin D their baby needed while feeding.

“Until more research is done on the effects of perinatal vitamin D deficiency, we suggest treating breast-fed infants with craniotabes with vitamin D, or preferably, treating all pregnant women with vitamin D.”

A lack of vitamin D in adults has previously been linked to increased risks of multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and other diseases.

SOURCE LINK: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...5-1702,00.html

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under-exposure to uv rays is as dangerous as over-exposure...This is "D" life! (eileen)