The more vitamin D mom takes, the more benefits for her and the future child.
- The benefits to mom start about 2,000 IU daily average (2000 IU costs less than $15 per year)
- Substantial benefits proven for 4,000 IU taken during pregnancy (fewer complications, lower cost)
- Best benefits at 6,000 IU - this much is also needed if breast feeding without supplementing the infant
- Taking > 2,000 IU raises the cost, primarily due to cost of Co-factors
Vitamin D during pregnancy
| IU | Cumulative Benefit (by VitaminDWiki.com) | Blood level | Co-factors | Calcium | $*/year |
| 400 | Less Rickets 3X less adolescent Schizophrenia Fewer child seizures | 20-30 ng/ml | Not needed | No effect | $3 |
| 2000 | 2X More likely to get pregnant naturally/IVF 2X Fewer dental problems with pregnancy 8X less diabetes 4X fewer C-sections (>37 ng) 4X less preeclampsia (40 ng vs 10 ng) 5X less child asthma 2X fewer language problems age 5 | 42 ng/ml | Desirable | < 750 mg | $15 |
| 4000 | 2X fewer pregnancy complications 2X fewer pre-term births | 49 ng/ml | Must have co-factors | < 750 mg | $75 |
| 6000 | Probable: larger benefits for above items Perhaps prevent 2nd autistic child clinical trials underway Just enough D for breastfed infant | Must have co-factors | < 750 mg | $85 |
$* assumes
- You buy fairly low cost vitamin D and co-factors (more expensive if liquid and/or vegan)
- Using a low cost size of vitamin D - such as 5,000 IU, as often as needed. (50,000 IU costs even less)
Example: 5000 IU every other day if you only want an average of 2500 IU - Test vitamin D levels of those moms who are at high risk for being vitamin D deficient
$30 for a blood test about 6 weeks after starting vitamin D to check that mom is getting enough
The above is the summary of the Overview of Vitamin D for Moms and babies, updated May 1, 2012