Children whose mothers had a diet rich in vitamin D during pregnancy have fewer cavities. This is the conclusion of a study published in Annals Of Epidemiology and carried out among a universe of 1,200 couples of mothers and children who evaluated the dietary intake of women during pregnancy.
There Vitamin D o calciferol is an unsaponifiable heterolipid from the steroid group. It is also known as the antirachitic vitamin because cases of vitamin D deficiency in the body can lead to a condition called rickets.
There Vitamin D It is a fat-soluble provitamin and can be obtained in two ways:
By ingesting foods rich in this vitamin and by the transformation of cholesterol due to exposure to UV sunlight.
For a healthy adult individual (both men and women), the optimal amount of vitamin D to ingest daily is estimated to be around 1000 IU (international standard unit of measurement for individual vitamins).
What is vitamin D used for?
There Vitamin D It is he who is responsible for regulating the passage of calcium to the bones. A lack of this vitamin causes the bones to not absorb enough calcium and begin a process of deterioration that leads them to weaken and bend, causing malformations that, moreover, will no longer be curable. is the disease we know as rickets And at the moment it particularly affects children in underdeveloped countries.
In the study that we mention in this article, what is revealed is the importance of vitamin D even during intrauterine life since, according to its authors, A diet rich in vitamin D for pregnant women will affect the baby to such an extent that their teeth will be stronger and they will have fewer cavities in adulthood.
Something that was already scientific proof, that even in the womb, nutrients influence the development of the fetus and its protection against future diseases, is now revealed in the direct relationship between vitamin D intake during pregnancy and the protection of the child against cavities.
Based on the study results, it is clear that providing a diet rich in vitamin D to children is as important as it is to mothers during pregnancy, because a diet rich in vitamin D reduces the risk of cavities in the unborn child.
Food rich in vitamin D and a little sunshine
For those of you who are already thinking about supplementing your diet with this vitamin, we have brought to this article some foods rich in vitamin D
milk and soy milk
A glass of milk contains around 98 IU, and many brands have already added a vitamin D supplement to their dairy products. For people who are lactose intolerant, there is also almond milk or soy milk enriched with vitamin D on the market.
Yogurt
Many yogurts have extra vitamin D. Some fruit-flavored yogurts, for example, contain around 80 IU per 100 grams.
Fish
Fish contains a large amount of vitamin D, but in the case of its intake during pregnancy, we must pay special attention. We tell you why.
A few years ago, the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (now AECOSAN) published a series of recommendations based on reports from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Directorate General of Health and Consumer Affairs (DGSANCO) of the European Commission. in that it was recommended to avoid eating certain species of oily fish during pregnancy, lactation and childhood due to the presence of mercury.
However, beyond the consideration of these species (swordfish, shark, bluefin tuna and pike), the same agency recommends in one of its latest publications the consumption of 1 to 2 portions of fish per week for pregnant women. In fact, another study by the University of Granada assures that Eating fish during pregnancy improves children’s intellectual capacity and social behavior. [Ver estudio]
This, yes, Fish should always be frozen fish and raw fish (sushi, sashimi, carpaccio or ceviche), chilled or marinated smoked fish, oysters, clams, raw mussels or the aforementioned species should never be eaten during pregnancy .
The fish with the highest amount of vitamin D that can easily be found in any supermarket are salmon, mackerel or canned sardines in oil, and catfish is the food with the most large amount of vitamin D. 85 grams of this fish provides 425 IU, 112.5% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for an adult.
And to compensate those who do not like fish, another recommendation to synthesize vitamin D and that it fulfills its mission by strengthening our bones, a particularly pleasant activity: sunbathing.
And with these tips, we’re not just going to promote the dental health of pregnant children.
Older people should also follow a diet rich in vitamin D since, in women, most cases of osteoporosis are vitamin D deficiency, not calcium. In addition, in another study that fell into our hands, they assure that older people with higher levels of vitamin D showed greater muscle strength and were able to perform greater physical activity.
Either way, it’s always best to follow your doctor’s recommendations carefully, especially during pregnancy.
