It’s a new study in Canada found that pregnant women who aren’t drinking enough milk during pregnancy are giving birth to smaller babies and putting their developing infants at harm. Researchers believe it is the lack of vitamin D in milk that is leading to the slower growth in babies.
This study that funded in part by the Dairy Farmers of Canada., found pregnant women who drank less than 250 millilitres of milk a day, or about a glass, delivered smaller babies than women who consumed more during their pregnancy.
Almost one-third drank less than 250 millilitres of milk a day and had a lower intake of vitamin D and protein, compared with pregnant women who drank varying amounts above that level. Milk is fortified with vitamin D, which promotes bone and organ growth, scientists say.
The new collaborative baby birth study between Montreal’s McGill University and the University of Calgary, was based on about 300 pregnant women aged 19 to 45 who were taking prenatal classes at three Calgary hospitals between 1997 and 1999 and published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
CTV’s medical expert Dr. Marla Shapiro said on Canada AM Tuesday, “Moms don’t drink enough milk, less than one cup a day, and for every 215 millilitres of milk that you drink … it correlates with an extra 41 grams of birth weight.”
The study’s principal investigator, Kristine Koski, director of McGill’s School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, said studies show less than 15 per cent of all Canadian women drink cow’s milk. Shapiro said, “We want to make sure you’re getting adequate calcium and vitamin D prenatally — and a lot of mothers just don’t drink milk. They don’t have that habit before they get pregnant. If the majority of women don’t drink milk, I’m concerned that also pregnant women aren’t.”
Many say they have been advised by their doctors to avoid milk during their pregnancy because of such concerns as food allergies and gastrointestinal upset due to lactose intolerance, Koski said, noting Canada’s population is known to be deficient in vitamin D.
Medical experts say smaller babies have higher rates of hypertension, obesity and diabetes as they age. They also believe vitamin D helps ward off some cancers.
Vitamin D is made by the body through skin exposure to sunlight. Pregnant women, however, are usually told to avoid the sun due to chloasma, where their skin turns blotchy. Sunlight makes this worse and sometimes permanent.
Some foods, such as ocean fish, contain vitamin D, but most Canadians don’t eat enough, health experts say. Federal guidelines in Canada require dairy milk to be fortified with vitamin D.
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