OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in pregnant women and their children is an important
health problem with severe consequences for the health of both. Thus, the
objectives of this review were to reassess the magnitude and consequences of VDD
during pregnancy, lactation and infancy, associated risk factors, prevention
methods, and to explore epigenetic mechanisms in early fetal life capable of
explaining many of the non-skeletal benefits of vitamin D (ViD). DATA SOURCE: Original and review articles, and consensus documents with elevated level of
evidence for VDD-related clinical decisions on the health of pregnant women and
their children, as well as articles on the influence of ViD on epigenetic
mechanisms of fetal programming of chronic diseases in adulthood were selected
among articles published on PubMed over the last 20 years, using the search term
VitD status, in combination with Pregnancy,
Offspring health, Child outcomes, and
Programming. DATA SYNTHESIS: The following items were analyzed: ViD physiology and metabolism, risk factors
for VDD and implications in pregnancy, lactation and infancy, concentration cutoff
to define VDD, the variability of methods for VDD detection, recommendations on
ViD replacement in pregnant women, the newborn and the child, and the epigenetic
influence of ViD. CONCLUSIONS: VDD is a common condition among high-risk pregnant women and their children. The
routine monitoring of serum 25(OH)D3 levels in antenatal period is mandatory.
Early preventive measures should be taken at the slightest suspicion of VDD in
pregnant women, to reduce morbidity during pregnancy and lactation, as well as its
subsequent impact on the fetus, the newborn and the child.