Many parents gaze at their newborn and wonder if their child will be tall and strong. But no matter what Mom and Dad bring to the genetic equation, there are likely other factors that influence adult size like the time of year and whether he or she falls into the summer babies group.
This intriguing new work suggests that the time of year your baby is born might have something to do with his or her future height and strength.
Making use of the wealth of data from the Children of the 90s Project, the Bristol University researchers studied babies born in 1991 and 1992, over 7,000 in all.
These infants were measured at birth and given a DXA scan at ten years old to measure bone density.
The team also looked at weather data from both years to account for the possible sun exposure of the mothers.
Some of the women supplied blood samples to check their vitamin D levels during their pregnancy. Interestingly, the blood tests aligned closely with the weather data.
What the research found was that by 10 years old the children born in the summer and fall months were an average half a centimeter (0.2 inches) taller and had almost 13 cm2 of extra bone area than those born in the spring or winter.
The wider bone area is an accepted indication of strength. And while taller people generally have wider bones, these children’s bones were sized over and above what they should have been for their height.
Professor of rheumatology Jon Tobias, a researcher with the project explains, “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.”
The researchers theorize the size difference may come from the mothers’ sun exposure.
You’ve heard that your body naturally makes vitamin D from sunlight, and the study suggests that this process may be occurring for the developing baby as well as the mother.
A woman who goes through the later stage of pregnancy in the summer or early fall is able to get more vitamin D from sunlight just because she is able to be outside more readily exposed to the sun.
What’s more, vitamin D deficiency is increasingly common even in healthy pregnant women. Experts believe the current recommendation for pregnant women of 200 to 400 IUs of vitamin D a day is too low.
Ongoing work by the Arthritis Research Campaign involves a trial giving vitamin D supplements to mothers while they’re pregnant to see if this increases the bone density of the babies when they’re born and follows these children into childhood, perhaps even their later years.
The hope is that supplementing during pregnancy reduces the child’s risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.
While you’re waiting for the results of this study, any woman whose baby is due between November and May, when natural sunlight levels are very low, might even things out by taking a vitamin D supplement during her pregnancy.
Research has shown that during the winter the latitudes of 52 degrees north don’t have the ultraviolet light of the right wavelength for the body to use in making vitamin D.
And since most western diets don’t supply the amount the body needs – even with choices like fortified cereals, milk, fish and eggs – making that extra effort to get enough is important for both mom and baby.
Continues below…
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Babies Born In Summer Or Early Fall Are Taller And Stronger… continued
You may remember from previous emails on Vitamin D, that it’s not just pregnant women who should ensure they get sufficient Vitamin D.
This vital nutrient is also known to be important in keeping bones healthy and helping strengthen the immune system. It’s even been linked to the prevention of cancers like colon, breast and ovarian and might help hold off the mental decline that can affect people as they age.
Of course you’ll want to talk with your own doctor to decide if vitamin D supplements are right for you before you start do anything whether you’re expecting summer babies or not.
