Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of needing a C-section

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reported that women with low blood levels of vitamin D were up to 4 times more likely to need an emergency C-section to deliver their baby than women with normal blood levels.

The list is growing to suggest that we have widespread problems in the U.S. and elsewhere with low vitamin D levels that increase our risks for a remarkable range of health conditions. These may range from susceptibility to the flu to Parkinson’s disease to type 1 diabetes to heart disease to osteopororis to needing C-section delivery.

Vitamin D3 is the most biologically-available form of the vitamin. You can get it from any health food store or drugstore. Experts are increasing estimates as to how much vitamin D you need to take daily, but it is a likely bet that 600-800 IU per day is safe and perhaps even not enough. Ask your doctor to test your blood levels and monitor them after you start a supplement to make sure you are getting what you need.