Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
12:02
Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
Published on: July 30, 2016
Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a group at high risk for pre-eclampsia
A W Shand1, N Nassar, P Von Dadelszen
1Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. awshand@yahoo.com.au
BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|November 3, 2010
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were common in pregnant women at high risk for pre-eclampsia. However, low vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) were not linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes like pre-eclampsia.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nutritional Science
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Vitamin D status is crucial during pregnancy.
- Pre-eclampsia is a significant complication affecting maternal and fetal health.
- Understanding the role of vitamin D in pregnancy outcomes is essential for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal vitamin D status and the risk of pre-eclampsia.
- To determine if vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency impacts other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- To assess vitamin D levels in a high-risk pregnant population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study design.
- Inclusion of 221 pregnant women with risk factors for pre-eclampsia.
- Measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels between 10-20 weeks of gestation.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (78%) and deficiency (53%) was observed.
- No statistically significant association was found between 25OHD concentration and the incidence of pre-eclampsia.
- Rates of gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and composite adverse pregnancy outcomes did not differ based on vitamin D status.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in high-risk pregnant women.
- Maternal vitamin D status, as measured by 25OHD, was not associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia or other adverse pregnancy outcomes in this cohort.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential roles of vitamin D in pregnancy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:19Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
The nursing management of Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP, centers around patient education, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle modifications.Patient Education on MVP Diagnosis and Heredity: Nurses should provide comprehensive education about MVP, a condition where the mitral valve does not close appropriately during heartbeats. This education often includes the condition's pathophysiology, symptoms, and potential complications, like arrhythmias or mitral regurgitation. Though not fully...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).