Vitamin D Supplementation and Reduced Risk of Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women

Abstract

These findings are consistent with other reports of a protective effect of vitamin D on preeclampsia development. However, because vitamin D intake is highly correlated with the intake of long chain n-3 fatty acids in the Norwegian diet, further research is needed to disentangle the separate effects of these nutrients.

Favorable Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Pregnancy Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…In agreement with our study, vitamin D supplementation did not affect preterm delivery in healthy pregnant women [26]. Furthermore, vitamin D intake of 15-20 μg/d, compared with less than 5 μg/d, did not result in lower occurrence of preeclampsia among healthy nulliparous women [15]. Nonetheless, Data are means ± standard deviation † Received placebo 2 times during the study: at study baseline and day 21 of intervention † † Received 50 000 IU vitamin D3 two times during the study: at study baseline and day 21 of intervention † † † Obtained from independent t-test * Based on participants' measured weight and height existed in their records in the maternity clinics Endocrine Care data on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on maternal, perinatal, or infant health outcomes in GDM patients are scarce.…”

“…It is unclear if these improvements in metabolic profiles of GDM patients could be translated in improved pregnancy outcomes. Vitamin D supplementation in healthy nulliparous women did not influence pregnancy outcomes [15]. However, vitamin D supplementation might improve pregnancy outcomes of patients with GDM due to its effect on maternal insulin resistance, metabolic profiles [16], and increased metabolism of bile acids [17].…”

Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a group at high risk for pre‐eclampsia

“…Also, in a recent large Norwegian cohort study, women taking supplements containing vitamin D pre-pregnancy, in the first trimester and in late pregnancy had a lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia than those who did not (odds ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97). 8 However, these findings have not been confirmed in other populations, nor has the effect of vitamin D status on other adverse pregnancy outcomes been investigated. Here we examine whether 25OHD concentration measured in the first half of pregnancy was associated with subsequent risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction, or preterm birth in a group of pregnant women at high risk for preeclampsia.…”

“…There are a number of possible explanations for this discrepancy. In our study, serum 25OHD concentrations were measured at a mean of 19 weeks of gestation, compared with a mean of 10 weeks of gestation in the study of Bodnar et al 7 In the study by Haugen et al, 8 women who took vitamin D supplements at three time points (pre-pregnancy, in early pregnancy and in late pregnancy) had a greater reduction in pre-eclampsia (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97) than women who took supplements only in early or late pregnancy (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.75-1.02) and than women who did not take vitamin D supplements at all. It is possible that first-trimester vitamin D concentrations may have a greater influence on placentation and pre-eclampsia than vitamin D concentrations in the second trimester.…”

“…In a nested case-control study by Bodnar et al, 7 55 nulliparous women who subsequently developed preeclampsia (4.9% of the population cohort) were almost 2.5 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient in early pregnancy after potential confounders, including BMI, were adjusted for. In a cohort study by Haugen et al, 8 of over 23 000 nulliparous women (of whom 5.2% developed preeclampsia), women who had a higher total vitamin D intake of 15-20 lg/day compared with <5 lg/day had a lower rate of pre-eclampsia (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% CI 0.6-0.95) after adjusting for potential confounders. There are a number of possible explanations for this discrepancy.…”