title: The influence of early exposure to vitamin D for development of diseases later in life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D deficiency is common among otherwise healthy pregnant women and may have consequences for them as well as the early development and long-term health of their children. However, the importance of maternal vitamin D status on offspring health later in life has not been widely studied. The present study includes an in-depth examination of the influence of exposure to vitamin D early in life for development of fractures of the wrist, arm and clavicle; obesity, and type 1 diabetes (T1D) during child- and adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is based on the fact that in 1961 fortifying margarine with vitamin D became mandatory in Denmark and in 1972 low fat milk fortification was allowed. Apart from determining the influences of exposure prior to conception and during prenatal life, we will examine the importance of vitamin D exposure during specific seasons and trimesters, by comparing disease incidence among individuals born before and after fortification. The Danish National databases assure that there are a sufficient number of individuals to verify any vitamin D effects during different gestation phases. Additionally, a validated method will be used to determine neonatal vitamin D status using stored dried blood spots (DBS) from individuals who developed the aforementioned disease entities as adults and their time and gender-matched controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study will contribute to our current understanding of the significance of supplementation with vitamin D. More specifically, they will enable new research in related fields, including interventional research designed to assess supplementation needs for different subgroups of pregnant women. Also, other health outcomes can subsequently be studied to generate multiple health research opportunities involving vitamin D. Finally, the results of the study will justify the debate of Danish health authorities whether to resume vitamin D supplementation policies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals - a part of Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ramune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauerek
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.forename: Camilla B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knop
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.forename: Lone B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stougaard
authors.forename: Thorkild I A
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Allan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vaag
authors.forename: Berit L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Heitmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol