Researchers have found recently that vitamin D plays a role in the development of lungs in the unborn child. There are also studies that suggest higher rates of maternal vitamin D are associated with lower asthma rates in kids. This research has led scientists to wonder: if pregnant women are supplemented with vitamin D with it help to prevent asthma in their children?

Robert C Strunk, a Washington University pediatric asthma and allergy specialist says that they are looking for a answer to that question.

Strunk is the lead researcher on a study that will look at about 870 women in the US. It will be called the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART) and will span 5 years. The intent is to enrol women early in pregnancy and then assign them one of two groups. One group will receive a prenatal vitamin with 400 units of vitamin D plus an addition 4,000 unit vitamin D supplement while the other group just receives the prenatal vitamin with a placebo pill.

During the study, these participants will provide information on their diet, sunlight exposure, activity levels and overall health including medications. They will provide blood and urine samples as well. Their children will be evaluated for both asthma and wheezing yearly starting at age 1 and continuing to age 3.

Vitamin D deficiency is now extremely common in the US even though foods like milk are fortified with it and most people take multivitamins. The high incidence of deficiency of this critical vitamin also occurs in pregnant and lactating women, despite prenatal vitamins. Researchers note that more of our lives are now spent indoors, with the resulting lack of sun exposure as one factor in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

At the same time, rates of asthma in children has doubled. According to the CDC, approximately 6.7 million kids are now living with asthma. It has become the most common chronic illness among children.

Source: Physorg