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Published on: July 18, 2014
A compromised maternal vitamin D status is associated with congenital heart defects in offspring
M P H Koster1, L van Duijn1, Y H M Krul-Poel2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Maternal vitamin D deficiency significantly increases the risk of congenital heart defects (CHD) in offspring. Ensuring adequate vitamin D levels before and during pregnancy is crucial for preventing these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Congenital heart defects (CHD) arise from complex genetic and environmental interactions.
- Modifiable maternal factors, including nutrition and lifestyle, are key in CHD pathogenesis.
- Periconceptional maternal vitamin D status is a potential environmental factor influencing CHD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal vitamin D levels during the periconceptional period and the occurrence of CHD in offspring.
- To determine if maternal vitamin D status is a risk factor for congenital heart defects.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 345 mothers of children with CHD and 432 control mothers.
- Data collected via questionnaires on lifestyle and maternal blood samples for vitamin D and lipid analysis.
- Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels categorized as deficient (<50 nmol/l), moderate (50-75 nmol/l), and adequate (>75 nmol/l).
- Logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders like maternal age, BMI, ethnicity, and smoking.
Main Results:
- Mothers of children with CHD had significantly lower rates of adequate vitamin D status (27% vs. 38%, p=0.002).
- Deficient maternal vitamin D status was linked to a 2.15-fold increased risk of CHD.
- Moderate vitamin D deficiency showed a 1.58-fold increased risk of CHD.
Conclusions:
- Compromised maternal vitamin D status is associated with a nearly two-fold increased prevalence of CHD.
- Improving maternal vitamin D levels during the periconceptional period is recommended to reduce CHD risk.
- This highlights the importance of prenatal vitamin D supplementation and monitoring.
Background:
Interactions between genetic and environmental factors, including modifiable maternal nutrition and lifestyle, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of most congenital heart defects (CHD). The aim of this study was to investigate associations between periconceptional maternal vitamin D status and the prevalence of CHD in offspring.
Methods:
A case-control study was performed in 345 mothers of a child with CHD and 432 mothers of a child without CHD from four tertiary hospitals in the Netherlands between 2003 and 2005. Approximately 15months after pregnancy mothers filled out questionnaires regarding general characteristics and periconceptional lifestyle. Maternal blood was obtained to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and lipid concentrations. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was stratified into a deficient <50nmol/l, moderate 50-75nmol/l and adequate >75nmol/l status. Logistic regression was performed to study associations between vitamin D status and CHD risk, adjusted for maternal age, body mass index, ethnicity, smoking and total cholesterol concentration.
Results:
Case mothers less often had an adequate vitamin D status compared with controls (27% vs. 38%; p=0.002). The use of multivitamin supplements, ethnicity, season and body mass index were associated with vitamin D concentrations. A moderate (odds ratio 1.58, [95%CI 1.08, 2.32]) and deficient (odds ratio 2.15, [95%CI 1.44-3.19]) vitamin D status were associated with CHD in offspring.
Conclusion:
A compromised maternal vitamin D status is associated with an approximately two-fold increased prevalence of CHD in offspring. Therefore, improvement of the periconceptional maternal vitamin D status is recommended.
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