Vitamin D is a steroid  hormone. It belongs to a group of fat soluble hormones. Women who take high doses of vitamin D during pregnancy are known to be at a reduced risk of complications such as  gestational diabetes,  preterm labor, preeclampsia and infection. Vitamin D deficiency  is common in pregnant women especially during the winter months. It is recommended that pregnant women take 4000 IU of this vitamin daily to get the greatest benefit.

How much vitamin D does my prenatal contain ?

 
Prenatal vitamins do not provide enough vitamin D for pregnant women. The average prenatal vitamin contains about 400 IU of this steroid hormone therefore it is important for pregnant women to take additional supplement .

What are the benefits of vitamin D during pregnancy ?

 
This vitamin is good for the pregnant women’s health. It support immune function, healthy cell division and bone health.

Low levels of this vitamin has been linked to  increased risk of autoimmune diseases, certain types of cancers, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases.

Vitamin D also supports healthy bone development in the baby. Deficiency in this vitamin has been linked to preeclampsia.

What  are the causes of vitamin D deficiency ?

 
There is a wide-spread of deficiency in this hormone because fewer foods contain it. These foods include egg yolk, code liver oil and salmon. Most vitamin D is consumed in fortified foods such as milk. However, in people who are lactose intolerant, this is not a reliable source of the steroid hormone.

Vitamin D can be made by the body but it requires sunlight to do that. Therefore factors such as where you live, time of the year, how much time you spend outside and age can affect it’s production. Healthy intestines with optimal absorption, obesity and pollution may also affect how much vitamin D the body gets.

What steps can I take to increase my vitamin D intake ?

 
You can start by eating foods rich in vitamin D. You can also try to get reasonable exposure of  sunlight about 5 to 10 minutes a day for  about 2 to 3 days in a week.

The best way to get this vitamin is however through taking supplements. There are two form of vitamin D. Ergocalciferol is the vegetarian form of vitamin D and cholecalciferol is the animal-sourced form .Cholecalciferol is the most absorbed and utilized form by the body. However if you are a vegan , you should stick with the ergocalciferol.
 
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