A lack of vitamin D in question …
Our month of birth says a lot about us. It would have an impact on our temperament, our character traits, our school or professional career, but also on our health. This surprising link, far from astrological beliefs, is today supported by several scientific studies which have highlighted statistical correlations between the period of birth and the risk of developing certain diseases.
According to the authors of a study published in the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ), an over-risk of illness is observed in people born in May, in connection with seasonal environmental factors. In question, a low exposure to the sun during the last months of pregnancy – typical of winter pregnancies leading to spring births – which could lead to a maternal deficiency in vitamin D, essential to the proper development of the fetus immune system.
Researchers from the Department of Biostatis of the University of Michigan analyzed health data and genetic predispositions of 30,000 patients living in the northern hemisphere (Canada, England, Scotland …). Volunteers born in May were more likely to have multiple sclerosis compared to people born in the other months. This link is all the more plausible since other studies have shown that chronically low levels of vitamin D significantly increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Conversely, people born in November, whose last months of gestation took place during more sunny periods (February to October), benefited from a more favorable prenatal exposure, with higher vitamin D levels and a lower risk of SE.
Researchers want to reassure the general public: these are only statistical associations that require other research work to be validated. It is therefore recommended not to be based on the month of birth to assess health risks, but rather to consult health professionals and to consider established medical factors.
