Lower Allergy Risk In Kids Linked To Vitamin D-Rich Diet During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women think that there is no way to prevent allergy in kids. A new research shows that there might be a specific diet during pregnancy that could reduce allergy risk in children.

A recent study -- led by a researcher from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology -- shows that eating lots of Vitamin D-rich foods during pregnancy is linked to lower risk of allergies in children, NewsWise reports. This is important in helping pregnant women choose the contents of their diet.

"Expectant mothers have questions about what they should eat during pregnancy, and our study shows that it's important to consider the source of nutrients in a mother's diet," Icahn School of Medicine  assistant professor Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, told NewsWise. The research involved the study of more than 1,000 women from the first trimester of their pregnancy until their kids reached the age of seven.

The research shows that eating more foods rich in Vitamin D is linked to 20 percent less development of hay fever in children. However, the researchers did not find any link between Vitamin D supplements and such decrease on allergy risk. "This study may influence nutritional counseling and recommendations to expectant moms to include vitamin D-rich foods in their diets," Bunyavanich added.

Vitamin D has a lot of other health benefits such as healthy bones and teeth, stronger immune system and nervous system, proper regulation of insulin levels, and stronger lungs and cardiovascular health, according to Medical News Today.

Pregnant women who want to lower allergy risk in their kids should also know the best sources of Vitamin D. Cod liver oil, oily fish, mushrooms, whole grain fortified cereals, tofu, caviar, dairy products, pork and eggs are some of the best foods rich in Vitamin D, according to HealthAliciousNess.