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Published on March 10, 2025

Dr. Bruce Hollis discusses a study involving 1800 pregnant women, which found a 55% decreased risk of adverse events among women who received vitamin D based on vitamin D status

Key Points

  • A study by Rostami et al. found a 55% decreased risk of adverse events among women who received vitamin D during pregnancy based on vitamin D status
  • Decades of research has confirmed that vitamin D supplementation of 4,000-6,000 IU daily during pregnancy is not only essential but safe, with no cases of vitamin D toxicity observed despite extensive monitoring
  • Watch the interview to learn about the hidden challenges of academic publishing and research concerning vitamin D, including ethical considerations of different types of randomized controlled trials used in nutrient research

Check Your Vitamin D Levels Here

 

We recently reviewed a study by Rostami et al., which was designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of a vitamin D screening and supplementation program among pregnant women.  Overall, the study found a 55% decreased risk of adverse events among women who received vitamin D during pregnancy based on vitamin D status.

Dr. Bruce Hollis was a co-author on the Rostami et al. paper.  In the interview featured below, Jen Aliano of GrassrootsHealth and Dr. Hollis discuss:

  • Key takeaways from the study regarding vitamin D’s impact on prenatal and newborn health
  • The hidden challenges of academic publishing and research concerning vitamin D, including ethical considerations of different types of randomized controlled trials used in nutrient research
  • Dr. Hollis’s expert insights on the review process and the creation of public health/practice guidelines
  • The importance of vitamin D supplementation and achieving specific vitamin D levels during (and before) pregnancy

Watch the Video

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Additional key points made in this video:

Safety: Dr. Hollis discusses his decades of research confirming that vitamin D supplementation of 4,000-6,000 IU daily during pregnancy is not only essential but safe, with no cases of vitamin D toxicity observed despite extensive monitoring.

Recommendation: Dr. Hollis recommends 4,000-6,000 IU of vitamin D daily for pregnant women, and notes that this dosage is particularly important for women with darker skin who cannot efficiently produce vitamin D from sunlight.

Testing Importance: While vitamin D testing can be valuable for education and monitoring, supplementation should not be delayed if testing isn’t available, especially for high-risk groups like women with darker skin.

Pregnancy Physiology: Pregnancy creates a unique vitamin D metabolic state where levels of active vitamin D (1,25D) increase dramatically, likely serving immune and developmental functions beyond calcium regulation.

Preconception Benefits: Achieving vitamin D sufficiency (40+ ng/mL) before conception or early in pregnancy may provide the greatest benefits for both mother and child.

Broader Application: Dr. Hollis suggests everyone should consider taking 4,000-5,000 IU of vitamin D daily regardless of pregnancy status, as it may improve quality of life and decrease infection rates.

Are you interested in implementing a vitamin D screening and supplementation protocol in your practice? Let us know – we can help! Reach out today.

How Are Your Levels of Vitamin D and Other Important Nutrients?

Check your vitamin D, omega-3s, magnesium, and other important markers today as part of the vitamin D*action project!

Measure your:

  • Vitamin D
  • Magnesium PLUS Elements (including zinc, copper, selenium, mercury, cadmium and lead)
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids
  • hsCRP (for Inflammation)
  • HbA1c (for Blood Sugar)
  • and more

Did you know that each of the above can be measured at home using a simple blood spot test? As part of our ongoing research project, you can order your home blood spot test kit to get your levels, followed by education and steps to take to help you reach your optimal target levels. Start by enrolling and ordering your kit to measure each of the above important markers, and make sure you are getting enough of each to support better health and wellbeing!

Build your custom kit here

Start Here to Measure Your Levels

How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?

Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!

STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health

STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study

STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there

STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)

Enroll in D*action and Build Your Custom Test Kit!