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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Maternal Intake of Vitamin D Supplements during Pregnancy and Pubertal Timing in Children: A Population-Based
Anne Gaml-Sørensen1, Nis Brix1,2, Lea Lykke Harrits Lunddorf1
1Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Insights
Maternal vitamin D supplement intake during pregnancy was linked to later pubertal timing in boys, but not girls. Lower vitamin D intake correlated with delayed puberty onset in males.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Maternal nutrition during pregnancy significantly influences offspring development.
- Vitamin D plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, potentially impacting reproductive health.
- The association between maternal vitamin D intake and pubertal timing requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between maternal vitamin D supplement intake during pregnancy and pubertal timing in offspring.
- To determine if this association differs between boys and girls.
Main Methods:
- A population-based follow-up study involving 12,991 Danish children born between 2000-2003.
- Maternal vitamin D supplement intake assessed via self-report in mid-pregnancy.
- Pubertal milestones tracked through self-report every six months.
- Statistical analysis using multivariable interval-censored regression models.
Main Results:
- Lower maternal vitamin D supplement intake was associated with delayed pubertal timing in boys.
- Boys experienced approximately 0.5 months later pubertal timing for every 5 µg/day decrease in maternal vitamin D intake.
- No significant association was found between maternal vitamin D supplement intake and pubertal timing in girls.
Conclusions:
- Maternal vitamin D supplement intake during pregnancy may influence the timing of puberty in sons.
- The findings suggest a potential sex-specific effect of vitamin D on pubertal development.
- Further research is needed to explore the long-term health implications of these findings.
Abstract:
Maternal vitamin D may be important for several organ systems in the offspring, including the reproductive system. In this population-based follow-up study of 12,991 Danish boys and girls born 2000-2003, we investigated if maternal intake of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy was associated with pubertal timing in boys and girls. Information on maternal intake of vitamin D supplements was obtained by self-report in mid-pregnancy. Self-reported information on the current status of various pubertal milestones was obtained every six months throughout puberty. Mean differences in months at attaining each pubertal milestone and an average estimate for the mean difference in attaining all pubertal milestones were estimated according to maternal intake of vitamin D supplements using multivariable interval-censored regression models. Lower maternal intake of vitamin D supplements was associated with later pubertal timing in boys. For the average estimate, boys had 0.5 months (95% CI 0.1; 0.9) later pubertal timing per 5 µg/day lower maternal vitamin D supplement intake. Maternal intake of vitamin D supplements was not associated with pubertal timing in girls. Spline plots and sensitivity analyses supported the findings. Whether the observed association with boys' pubertal timing translates into an increased risk of disease in adulthood is unknown.
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