Vitamin D and miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2025
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Jennifer A Tamblyn1, Nicole S P Pilarski2, Alexandra D Markland3
1Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; CARE Fertility Leeds, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, England; Birmingham Women's and Children's Foundation Hospital Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Objective:
To investigate whether a significant association between vitamin D status and the risk of miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage (RM) exists.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Setting:
Not applicable.
Patient(S):
Women with miscarriage and RM.
Intervention(S):
We searched the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception to May 2021. Randomized and observational studies investigating the association between maternal vitamin D status and miscarriage and/or vitamin D treatment and miscarriage were included.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The primary outcome was miscarriage or RM, with vitamin D status used as the predictor of risk. Whether vitamin D treatment reduces the risk of miscarriage and RM was also assessed.
Result(S):
Of 902 studies identified, 10 (n = 7,663 women) were included: 4 randomized controlled trials (n = 666 women) and 6 observational studies (n = 6,997 women). Women diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) had an increased risk of miscarriage compared with women who were vitamin D replete (>75 nmol/L) (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.02; 4 studies; n = 3,674; I2 = 18%). Combined analysis, including women who were vitamin D insufficient (50-75 nmol/L) and deficient (<50 nmol/L) compared with women who were replete (>75 nmol/L), found an association with miscarriage (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.30; 6 studies; n = 6,338; I2 = 35%). Although 4 randomized controlled trials assessed the effect of vitamin D treatment on miscarriage, study heterogeneity, data quality, and reporting bias precluded direct comparison and meta-analysis. The overall study quality was "low" or "very low" using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach.
Conclusion(S):
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are associated with miscarriage. Whether preconception treatment of vitamin D deficiency protects against pregnancy loss in women at risk of miscarriage remains unknown.
Registration Number:
CRD42021259899.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
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...
01:30Vitamins
01:22Connective Tissue Cell Types
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...