Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency and the Risk of Small for Gestational Age: A Meta-analysis
Zhao Hu1, Lu Tang1, Hui-Lan Xu1
1Dept. of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Background:
Inconsistencies among studies still exist in regard to the associations between maternal vitamin D deficiency and the risk of small for gestational age.
Methods:
We conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate these associations. We searched electronic databases for literature published in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane Library up to Dec 2016 using the following keywords: "vitamin D" or "cholecalciferol" or "25-OHD" or "25-hydroxyvitamin D" in combination with "small for gestational age" or "SGA" or "fetal outcome" or "pregnancy outcome".
Results:
Twelve studies involving 19,027 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD levels<50 nmol/L) experienced an increased risk of SGA (odds ratio (OR) =1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.75). The vitamin D concentration of the SGA group was lower than that of the non-SGA group (mean difference: -1.75 nmol/L, 95%CI: -3.23, -0.27).
Conclusion:
Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of SGA.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pedigree Analysis
Vitamins
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Relative Risk
Directing Effect of Substituents: meta-Directing Groups
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...

