Vitamin D supplements enhance weight gain and nutritional status in pregnant Asians.

In a double blind trial of supplementary vitamin D (1000 iu daily) administered in the last trimester of pregnancy to Asian women living in London, supplemented mothers gained weight faster (63.3 g/day) than those in the control group (46.4 g/day), and at term had significantly higher plasma levels of retinol binding protein and thyroid binding prealbumin indicating better protein-calorie nutrition. Maternal weight gain correlated with postpartum levels of both retinol binding protein and thyroid binding prealbumin. Almost twice as many infants in the unsupplemented group weighed under 2500 g at birth, and had significantly lower retinol binding protein levels than infants of supplemented mothers. The nutritional benefits of supplementation provide further support for the routine administration of vitamin D to all British Asians during pregnancy.