Pregnant mothers have so many considerations to weigh. Recent studies show the impacts that both Vitamin D and Antibiotics may have on the pregnancy. What effects are noted when studying Vitamin D and Antibiotics in pregnancy? Many side effects can impact both mother and baby.
A new study came out today on just that topic: Vitamin D and pregnancy while two more studies released have shown how drugs and supplements given to pregnant women affect the fetus and the offspring for years to come.
Be well.
Bone Density
Taking higher doses of Vitamin D during pregnancy showed a correlation with higher bone density in those children six years later. The higher Vitamin D supplementation was 2800 IU/d (high-dose) vs 400 IU/d (standard-dose) from pregnancy week 24 until 1 week after birth. Of course, speak with your obstetrician before taking high doses of supplements during pregnancy or at any time.
- Effect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation
- in Pregnancy on Bone Mineralization in Offspring Until Age 6 Years – JAMA Pediatric, Feb 24, 2020
Antibiotics in Pregnancy
This was a study of more than 104,000 pregnant women given either one prescription of penicillin or one prescription of macrolide antibiotics – erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, fidaxomicin and telithromycin. No matter when during the pregnancy the women were given the drugs, the outcome was worse for the fetus’ exposed to macrolide antibiotics.
During the first trimester exposure to macrolide antibiotics increased the risk of major malformation, specifically cardiovascular malformations compared with penicillin exposure. In any trimester macrolide prescribing increased the risk of genital malformations.
- Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study – British Medical Journal, Feb 19, 2020
Asthma
Vitamin D has been shown to be important for lung development in animal studies. The research hoped to prove that giving pregnant women vitamin D would lower the amount of asthma in offspring. The study followed the children for seven years. Unfortunately, there was virtually no difference in asthma occurrence between those children exposed to higher levels of vitamin d in utero vs those with normal levels.
- NEJM: Does Antenatal Vitamin D Prevent Childhood Asthma? – MedicalResearch.com, Feb 10, 2020
