Vitamin D has gotten widespread press for helping with fatigue, depression, low immunity, and bone health. However, did you know that having deficient vitamin D levels can adversely affect your pregnancy? Research has shown low vitamin D levels have been correlated with pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, anemia, and preeclampsia. It has also been associated with increased pregnancy losses. Low vitamin D levels have already been widely recognized as a public health issue, however I rarely see pregnant patients who have had their vitamin D levels tested before coming to see me.
I highly recommend testing vitamin D levels via a blood draw rather than just beginning to supplement presumptively without testing for the following 3 reasons:
- Your vitamin D levels may already be optimal and you might not need any vitamin D at all.
- The level of supplementation changes depending on how low you are.
- Your levels can in fact be too high and excessively high levels of vitamin D can be associated with increased arterial calcification—something you don’t want to happen.
If you would like more information about how naturopathic care can help you optimize your health before, during, and after your pregnancy, please come in for a free 15 minute consultation and we can get started.
Dr. Jamie Brinkley, ND
PubMedIDSs: 24457526, 24277747, 24043954