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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

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Prenatal maternal and cord blood vitamin D concentrations and negative affectivity in infancy

Sara Sammallahti1,2, Elisa Holmlund-Suila3,4, Runyu Zou1

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|October 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy are linked to lower infant negative affectivity, a risk factor for psychopathology. Higher maternal vitamin D is associated with better child mental health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal health
  • Developmental psychology
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Higher maternal vitamin D concentration during pregnancy is linked to improved child mental health.
  • Negative affectivity in infancy is an early indicator of potential psychopathology.
  • Understanding factors influencing early infant temperament is crucial for developmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in early/mid-pregnancy and neonatal cord blood 25(OH)D concentrations with infant Negative Affectivity.
  • To determine if vitamin D status during gestation impacts early-emerging infant temperament traits.
  • To explore the relationship between maternal vitamin D and infant behavioral risk factors for psychopathology.

Main Methods:

  • Two independent cohorts (VIDI and Generation R Study) including term-born infants were analyzed.
  • Maternal serum 25(OH)D was measured during early/mid-pregnancy, and cord blood 25(OH)D at birth.
  • Infant Negative Affectivity was assessed using the Revised Infant Behavior Questionnaire, with linear regression analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • Higher maternal early/mid-pregnancy 25(OH)D concentrations were consistently associated with lower infant Negative Affectivity across both cohorts.
  • Each 10 nmol/l increase in maternal 25(OH)D was linked to a decrease in Negative Affectivity.
  • Associations between cord blood 25(OH)D and Negative Affectivity were less consistent, observed in one cohort but not the other.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal vitamin D status in early- to mid-pregnancy may influence the development of infant temperament, specifically reducing negative affectivity.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for maternal vitamin D in mitigating early behavioral risk factors for psychopathology.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking maternal vitamin D and offspring behavioral development.

Keywords:
Infant mental healthNegative affectivityNutritionPrenatalTemperamentVitamin D

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