Third trimester maternal vitamin D and early childhood socioemotional development

Authors

Ellen C. Francis, Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Elizabeth Charron, Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Mengying Li, Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Liwei Chen, Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Rachel Mayo, Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
Linda S. Butler, Psychiatry Department, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA.
Lior Rennert, Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2021

Institution/Department

Pediatrics

Journal Title

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology

MeSH Headings

Child Development; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency (epidemiology); Vitamins

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 ]), 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.

First Page

350

Last Page

358

Recommended Citation

Francis EC, Charron E, Li M, et al. Third trimester maternal vitamin D and early childhood socioemotional development. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2021;35(3):350-358. doi:10.1111/ppe.12736