Summer Babies Are Healthier: Sun Exposure Plays A Part

Summer babies are more likely to be healthier babies, according to a recent study published in the journal Heliyon.

Researchers found that more sunlight may have something to do with it. Due to increased levels of vitamin D during the second trimester of pregnancy, this could potentially affect the future child's birth weight as well as when girls start puberty. However, researchers caution that more studies will be needed to cement the accuracy of the results. 

During this recent study, researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK, examined whether birth month had an effect on birth weight, the onset of puberty and adult height. Findings revealed that children who were born in the summer were typically heavier at birth, taller as adults and went through puberty slightly later than those born in the winter months; this was true of children born in June, July and August, specifically. The study also noted that for the first time, girls born in the summer started puberty later - an indication of better health in adult life.

"This is the first time puberty timing has been robustly linked to seasonality," said lead study author Dr. John Perry, in a news release. "We were surprised, and pleased, to see how similar the patterns were on birth weight and puberty timing. Our results show that birth month has a measurable effect on development and health, but more work is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this effect."

"We don't know the mechanisms that cause these season of birth patterns on birth weight, height, and puberty timing," added Dr. Perry. "We need to understand these mechanisms before our findings can be translated into health benefits. We think that vitamin D exposure is important and our findings will hopefully encourage other research on the long-term effects of early life vitamin D on puberty timing and health."

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