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Related Concept Videos

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role 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).
Connective Tissue Cell Types01:22

Connective Tissue Cell Types

Connective tissue develops from the mesoderm of a developing embryo and consists of cells, fibers, and ground substance: a gel-like material containing large complexes of carbohydrates and proteins. Connective tissue was first identified as a separate tissue family in the 18th century, and Johannes Peter Muller coined the term connective tissue.
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

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...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

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...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology 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.
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Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health01:25

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
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Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...

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Vitamin D in pregnancy: current concepts.

Rachel P Urrutia1, John M Thorp

  • 1Division of Women's Primary Care, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. rmpera@gmail.com

Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology
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Vitamin D plays a role in pregnancy, but optimal levels and supplementation benefits remain unclear. More research, including randomized trials, is needed to confirm its impact on maternal and infant health.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D, a steroid hormone, is crucial for bone metabolism and increasingly recognized for its roles in vascular, immune, metabolic, and placental functions.
  • High rates of vitamin D deficiency are observed in pregnant women, highlighting potential risks during gestation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence on vitamin D's role in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.
  • To assess the association between vitamin D levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 78 studies published in PubMed from May 2010 to October 2011.
  • Keywords used included 'vitamin D' and 'pregnancy'.

Main Results:

  • Biologic evidence supports vitamin D's role in reproductive health, yet consensus on optimal levels and deficiency measurement is lacking.
  • Clinical studies show conflicting results regarding vitamin D levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight.
  • Discrepancies in results are attributed to a lack of randomized trials, diverse study populations, small sample sizes, and inadequate control for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is essential to define optimal 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in pregnant women and specific subgroups.
  • Randomized trials are necessary to establish whether vitamin D supplementation improves pregnancy outcomes.
  • Current recommendations from ACOG and IOM suggest 600 IU of daily vitamin D during pregnancy for bone health.