What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for Research Paper

What is the optimal dosage of vitamin D supplementation necessary for pregnant women - Research Paper Example ditionally, vitamin D is acquired when one exposes their skin to the sunlight and ultraviolet rays that strike the skin triggering the synthesis of the vitamin. For pregnant mothers, this vitamin is quite essential, not only for their welfare, but also for the well-being of their unborn babies. This is because of the numerous benefits that are achieved from the consumption of vitamin D, such as, the maintenance of adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body. This, in turn, allows for the attainment of normal bone mineralization, and prevention of conditions such as hypocalcaemia among pregnant women and their offspring (Perampalam, Ganda, Chow, Opie, Hickman, Shadbolt & Nolan, 2011). Pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient place their unborn offspring and themselves at risk for developing serious health complications. Based on a study by the US National Institute of Health, the presence of sufficient vitamin D in the body of a pregnant woman has been found to augment the development of her bones, and remodel her osteoclasts and osteoblasts. If she is vitamin D deficiency for an extensive period, the bones and body frame of a pregnant woman may become brittle, thin, and misshapen. According to Mohamed, Rowan, Fong & Loy (2014), vitamin D deficiency among infants is determined by the maternal status of vitamin D in the second trimester. For the fetus, a deficiency in the supply of vitamin D into their bodies may result in them developing diseases such as rickets upon being born. The metabolism of vitamin D takes place during the last trimester in which the bone mass is enhanced. Vitamin D is indispensable for the mineralization of the fetal skeletons and is a major contributor to the attainment of an increased bone mass (Wagner & Greer, 2008). According to a study by Haliloglu et al., (2011), bone turnover in pregnant women and infants is enhanced with the increased consumption of vitamin D3 supplementation (Mithal & Kalra, 2014). The