Voeding tijdens zwangerschap belangrijk voor sterke botten bij nakomelingen*
Uit een Engelse studie blijkt dat een goede en gevarieerde voeding tijdens de zwangerschap belangrijk is voor een goed botopbouw bij de baby
later in het leven. In de studie werd van 198 zwangere vrouwen het voedingspatroon tijdens de zwangerschap vastgelegd en bloedwaarden vitamine D gemeten. Een gezond voedingspatroon bestond uit veel groenten en fruit, yoghurt en volkoren producten, een slecht voedingspatroon bestond meer uit chips, suiker, witte brood, bewerkt vlees, groente uit blik en frisdranken. Van de nakomelingen werd op negenjarige leeftijd botdichtheidmetingen verricht. Kinderen van moeders met het gezondste dieet tijdens de zwangerschap hadden 11% meer botdichtheid en 8% meer
botvolume allebei tekenen voor sterkere botten. Het voedingspatroon bleek ook samen te hangen met het inkomen van de vrouwen. Bij een laag inkomen correspondeerde
vaak een slechter eetpatroon. Verder bleek dat vrouwen met een laag inkomen ook een duidelijk tekort hadden aan bloedwaarden
vitamine D.
Diet During Pregnancy
Zoe Cole’s study showed that Mothers with a healthy, well balanced diet during pregnancy have children with stronger bones. In contrast, mothers with poorer quality diets had children with smaller and less strong bones when measured 9 years after they were born.
“This is the first study to show that mothers can improve their child’s bone development early on by consuming a good diet in the late stages of their pregnancy,” said Dr Zoe Cole, study author from the University of Southampton. “We reach our peak bone mass around our mid twenties so it’s vital that young people accrue strong bone before then.”
The nutritional status of the mothers was recorded in early and late pregnancy using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A statistical technique called “principal component analysis” was used to reveal the most common patterns of diet. Two main patterns emerged- Firstly, a healthier pattern, characterised by high intakes of foods such as fruit and vegetables, yoghurt, wholemeal bread and breakfast cereals (corresponding closely to recommendations from Department of Health). Secondly, a less healthy pattern comprisinghigh intakes of foods like chips and roast potatoes, sugar, white bread, processed meat, crisps, tinned vegetables, and soft drinks was apparent. The children were followed up at age 9 years for an assessment of their bones.
Mothers who followed the more healthy pattern in late pregnancy had children with significantly increased bone size and density, thus with stronger bones. Children born to mothers with the healthiest diets had 11% greater bone calcium content and 8% great whole body bone area than those born to mothers who had the poorest patterns of dietary intake.
“Bone mass determines bone strength and studies suggest that a lower bone mass when we are young will affect bone fragility in later life,” explained Dr Cole. “An unhealthy diet during pregnancy may have huge ramifications for the unborn child’s future bone
health.”
Having a lower than average income may have long-term effects on bone health, according to Vassant Hirani’s research. The study shows that people in Britain with a low income, or who are materially deprived (which was defined according to their personal possessions), have lower average levels of vitamin D than the general population. The study authors recommend national prevention strategies addressing poor vitamin D status in the wider adult population, but particularly in deprived populations.
“Our study has highlighted a worrying link between lower incomes and vitamin D status,” said study author Vasant Hirani of UCLMedicalSchool, London. “Sufficient vitamin D is crucial for good bone health and a deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures. Evidence suggests that vitamin D may also play an important role in the prevention of diabetes, cancers, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases. The future impact of low vitamin D levels is likely to be phenomenal, leading to a poor quality of life and accelerating cost implications for the NHS.”
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which acts like a hormone, regulating the formation of bone and the absorption of calcium. It helps to control the movement of calcium between bone and blood, and vice versa. To keep bones strong we need to get enough vitamin D. While you can get some of your vitamin D from food, the majority comes from the action of sunlight on the skin.
“Low-income adults can be subject to a range of health inequalities and more needs to be done to address these problems, particularly in the current economic climate,” said Nick Rijke, Director of Public and External Affairs for the National Osteoporosis Society. “Further research will help us determine the causes of vitamin D deficiency in this
group”. (Augustus
2009)
