Sunshine makes your newborn taller, stronger

Bristol, February 4: Gain on vitamin D from sun during pregnancy to make your babies taller and stronger, says the findings of a long-term study done at the Bristol University.

In their 18-year-long study named 'Children of the '90s', the researchers discovered that sunbathing or exposure to the sun for few minutes everyday may increase vitamin D levels in a pregnant women’s body helping her offspring develop a strong bone-structure.

They believe that summer babies can be 5 mm taller than their winter-born counterparts and are also likely to have wider bones. However, they feel that women due to deliver in winter must take vitamin supplements.

Sunrays consist of two major components –UVA and UVB rays. The UVB component of sunlight is said to produce vitamin D in the body rather than diet. However, exposure to sunlight is associated with many controversies including skin cancerdefine.

Researcher Sally Watson said: "Perhaps people shouldn't be quite so terrified of the sun. There's been a lot of panic about skin cancer, but people don't need to panic about the odd few minutes of exposure. A little controlled English sun is better than none. Or go to the Bahamas!"

The research team feels that sun bed may not substitute for sun exposure as it blocks UVB rays completely. A walk outside in the sun for some time may help UVB rays to deliver their benefits.

The study, funded by the University of Bristol, Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, concentrated on sun exposure of the mothers of 7,000 children in last trimester of pregnancy. At the age of 10, these children were made to undergo X-rays to study the bone density factor.

It was found that mothers who had high sun exposure bore children who were at least 5mm taller than others and had supplemental bone area measuring 12.75 sq cm owing to their wider bones which was not seen in winter babies at all.

Certainly, taller individuals have a wider bone-structure. But researchers found that the bone width in these summer children was "over and above" the 'extra-height' levels.

Researchers concluded that sufficient levels of vitamin D in pregnancy could increase the bone mass, thereby resulting in wide bones that are much stronger.

Vitamin D and calcium are involved collectively in bone-building. Sunlight is the most natural, inexpensive and widely available source of vitamin D. The recent research shows that Vitamin D works towards better bones right from the womb.

According to the Food Standards Agency, an intake of ten micrograms of vitamin D per day is recommended in pregnancy.

Research member Professor Jon Tobias said, "Wider bones are thought to be stronger and less prone to breaking as a result of osteoporosis in later life, so anything that affects early bone development is significant. Pregnant women might consider talking to their doctor about taking Vitamin D supplements, particularly if their babies are due between November and May, when sunlight levels are low."

The study is originally known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and it focussed on 14,000 pregnant women from year 1991 and 1992. The researchers followed these women's course of pregnancy, childbirth and later their children in "minute detail" to conclude the findings.