Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy Could Affect Child IQ, Study Shows

A direct correlation has been found between a child's IQ and their parent's vitamin D levels in pregnancy. It is understood that vitamin D is necessary for fetal brain development, but researchers have now extended research to look at the cognitive development of offspring when they reach early childhood.

IQ levels in early childhood are considered stable and may have subsequent impacts on future schooling, health, and socioeconomic standing. So, researchers stress the importance of testing for vitamin D levels in pregnancy and supplementing if required.

The study also found that vitamin D deficiency was alarmingly common among pregnant people in general, but deficiency occurred at an even greater rate among populations with darker skin.

What the Study Shows

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, looked at data from over 1000 people during pregnancy to determine their vitamin D plasma levels in the second trimester. Their children were followed up at 4 to 6 years of age and underwent a specialized child IQ test.

Lead researcher and study author Melissa Melough, PhD, RD, reports that results showed that the higher a person's vitamin D level in pregnancy was, the higher their child's IQ was when tested. According to Dr. Melough, these results suggest that “prenatal vitamin D status is an important predictor of a child’s cognitive development”.

The study also revealed that almost half of all people in the study were deficient in vitamin D and that this condition was more prevalent in people with darker skin.

Dr. Melough explains, “Vitamin D deficiency is very common, and those with pigmented skin are at greater risk. Melanin pigment protects the skin against damaging UV rays, but also blocks the production of vitamin D in the skin.”

How Does Skin Color Impact Vitamin D?

When the skin absorbs ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from sunlight, the body begins a cascade of hormonal and chemical reactions to turn the UVB into a usable form of vitamin D. The first step in this process involves a chemical known as 7-dehydrocholesterol. The reason skin color matters is because this chemical is also required by melanin.

Melanin is the name given to the pigment that creates color in the skin. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin color. If more melanin is present to absorb UVB and use the 7-dehydrocholesterol for its own use, there is little UVB left available for vitamin D production. This is why people with darker skin are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.

Why Vitamin D Is Necessary for Brain Development

Vitamin D is commonly known for its role in bone strength, but this study adds to a growing body of research that indicates vitamin D is also necessary for neurodevelopment and cognitive function.

Registered dietitian Claire Virga explains that vitamin D is important beyond pregnancy. Children and adolescents need ongoing vitamin D for growth and learning.

“In addition to supporting learning, memory, and motor control development, vitamin D plays a role in many other aspects of health important to childhood and beyond,” says Virga.

Virga goes on to explain that beyond its role in cognition, “Vitamin D deficiencies are associated with an increased risk for mental illness including depression. Vitamin D also modulates the immune system by reducing inflammation, which not only reduces the risk of acute infection but also reduces the risk for chronic inflammatory conditions.”

Does IQ at Ages 4 to 6 Really Matter?

At ages 4 to 6 years, a child has their whole schooling life ahead of them, and so, it may be questioned if an IQ test so early in life really means much to their overall success in life. Dr. Melough points out that “IQ tends to be fairly stable from preschool age into adulthood, and stability increases with age.”

Although Dr. Melough does say that more research is still needed in the field, IQ is important to consider. It is not just about being a little smarter. Dr. Melough explains that IQ status impacts so many things in a child's life.

“Some observational studies have shown that IQ is positively associated with income, health, and even longevity. Importantly, these types of studies can’t establish a causal relationship, but they indicate that higher IQ could be advantageous.”

How Can You Boost Your Vitamin D Levels?

Virga explains that although vitamin D is not found widely in most food sources, there are a few good options available.

“Good food sources include fatty fish (like salmon, herring, mackerel, and sardines), egg yolks, wild mushrooms (commercially grown mushrooms are usually grown in the dark and therefore do not contain much, if any, vitamin D), and fortified foods like some milks, orange juice, and cereals," she says.

Supplementation of vitamin D is also an option, particularly if you don’t regularly consume the foods listed above. Dr. Melough explains that because fetal brain development begins so early in pregnancy, it would be beneficial for people to consider vitamin D supplementation with their usual pregnancy vitamins.

However, Dr. Melough explains that if you are at a higher risk of deficiency, chatting to your doctor is recommended because you may need supplementation above the standard recommendations.

“Women with pigmented skin and those who get little sun exposure should consult with their healthcare providers to determine if they could be deficient and if vitamin D supplementation beyond their prenatal vitamin is needed," Dr. Melough says.

Where to Go From Here?

Further research in this area is warranted to ensure consistency in findings and to understand more about maternal vitamin D levels and the neurocognitive development of children.

However, with the information we do have, Dr. Melough says “I hope this research raises awareness about the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially among Black women, and leads to increased screening and treatment.”