Maternal antenatal vitamin D supplementation and offspring risk of atopic eczema in the first 4 years of life: evidence from a randomized controlled trial.

Our data provide the first randomized controlled trial evidence of a protective effect of antenatal cholecalciferol supplementation on the risk of infantile atopic eczema, with the effect potentially being via increased breast milk cholecalciferol levels. The findings support a developmental influence on atopic eczema, and point to a potentially modifiable perinatal influence on atopic eczema. What is already known about this topic? There are currently no antenatal interventions proven to reduce the incidence of infantile atopic eczema in the general population. However, observational studies have led to speculation that antenatal vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial.