Consequences of perinatal vitamin D deficiency on later bone health

Vitamin D has important roles in calcium metabolism and in the prevention of rickets and osteomalacia. There is also increasing evidence to suggest a role for vitamin D in developmental programming of bone and muscle; recently reported randomized controlled trials of pregnancy vitamin D supplementation have demonstrated positive effects on offspring bone mineral density in early childhood and elucidated potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying the observed relationships. The current evidence supports prevention of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, with further follow-up of participants of mother-offspring intervention studies required to demonstrate persistence of a beneficial effect of high-dose vitamin D through puberty to peak bone mass before routine high dose supplementation can be advised.