Association of low intake of milk and vitamin D during pregnancy with decreased birth weight.

Title
Association of low intake of milk and vitamin D during pregnancy with decreased birth weight.
Source
CMAJ Canadian Medical Association Journal. 174(9):1273-7, 2006 Apr 25.



BACKGROUND:

Some pregnant women may be advised or choose to restrict milk consumption and may not take appropriate supplements. We hypothesized that maternal milk restriction during pregnancy, which can reduce intakes of protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin D, might represent a health risk by lowering infant birth weight.

RESULTS:

Women who consumed less than or = 250 mL/d of milk gave birth to infants who weighed less than those born to women who consumed more. Infant lengths and head circumferences were similar. Women who restricted milk intake had statistically significantly lower intakes of protein and vitamin D as well.

In multivariate analyses controlled for previously established predictors of infant birth weight, milk consumption and vitamin D intake were both significant predictors of birth weight. Each additional cup of milk daily was associated with a 41 g increase in birth weight; each additional microgram of vitamin D, with an 11 g increase. Neither protein, riboflavin nor calcium intake was found to predict birth weight.

INTERPRETATION:

Milk and vitamin D intakes during pregnancy are each associated with infant birth weight, independently of other risk factors.