Vitamin D & Language Development

Having adequate levels of one vitamin during pregnancy could help language problems in their children.

It's vitamin D and it looks like having enough of it during the pregnancy can help your child avoid language issues even when they are up to 10 years old.

A new study, just published in the Journal Pediatrics, looked to see if there was any connection between a mother's vitamin D levels during pregnancy and how their child developed later in life. The researchers involved specifically looked at how it might affect behavioral, emotional and language issues when the child was anywhere up to 17 years old.

They didn't find much of a connection with behavioral or emotional issues. But they did find a big connection with the mom-to-be's vitamin D level and language development in their child when he or she was 5 and even 10 years old. Those with the lowest levels of vitamin D had children who were twice as likely to have a language problem later on.

This was especially true when it came to vitamin D levels during the second and third trimesters. Probably because this is when language parts of the brain are developing the most.

Some mothers-to-be may need supplements to boost their vitamin D levels. Your best bet is to check with your doctor to see where you stand when it comes to your levels of this vitamin that's important for your health and that of your baby-to-be.