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Third trimester maternal vitamin D and early childhood socioemotional development
Author(s) -
Francis Ellen C.,
Charron Elizabeth,
Li Mengying,
Chen Liwei,
Mayo Rachel,
Butler Linda S.,
Rennert Lior
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/ppe.12736
Subject(s) - offspring , medicine , socioemotional selectivity theory , vitamin d and neurology , pregnancy , confidence interval , quartile , vitamin d deficiency , body mass index , vitamin , obstetrics , toddler , physiology , developmental psychology , gerontology , psychology , genetics , biology
Abstract Background Whether maternal vitamin D affects offspring socioemotional development in early childhood has been underexplored. Objectives This study examined associations between maternal vitamin D during in the 3rd trimester and offspring socioemotional development between 30 and 59 months. Methods Data from 87 maternal‐offspring pairs enrolled in the National Children's Study were used. Total plasma maternal vitamin D (25‐hydroxyergocalciferol + 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol) was measured between 28 and 35 gestational weeks and categorised as quartiles (Q). Multivariable regression models, adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, education, and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI [kg/m 2 ]), were used to estimate the association between vitamin D and offspring scores on the Brief Infant‐Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA). Results The mean (standard deviation) vitamin D concentration was 86.5 (27.8) nmol/L. The median (range) BITSEA problem score was 6.0 (0.0‐30.0), and competence score was 19.0 (7.0‐22.0). Maternal vitamin D was inversely related to offspring problem scores. Compared to offspring of women with 25(OH)D in Q1, offspring problem scores were −4.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] −8.29, −1.33) units lower for Q2 vs Q1, −5.64 (95% CI −9.60, −1.68) units lower for Q3 vs Q1, and −4.70 (95% CI −8.59, −0.82) units lower for Q4 vs Q1. Vitamin D was not associated with offspring competence score. Conclusions Higher maternal vitamin D was associated with lower offspring behaviour problems and not associated with socioemotional competence. These data indicate the association of maternal vitamin D and offspring development may be dependent on the specific developmental component being investigated.