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Published on: June 28, 2024
Impact of Maternal Vitamin D Levels on Offspring Bone Development: Systematic Review
Julian Dewantiningrum1, Adriyan Pramono2, Dwi Pudjonarko3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia. jdewantiningrum@fk.undip.ac.id.
Journal of Bone Metabolism
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy impact offspring bone health, with effects potentially varying by child
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Maternal vitamin D is crucial for fetal skeletal development and calcium balance.
- The long-term effects of maternal vitamin D status on offspring bone health are not fully understood, particularly in regions with high sun exposure but low vitamin D levels.
- This review examines cohort studies on maternal serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D) and offspring bone outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review cohort studies investigating the association between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring bone health.
- To synthesize evidence on how maternal 25(OH)D levels influence fetal skeletal development and long-term bone outcomes in children.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 19 cohort studies involving 12,835 mother-offspring pairs.
- Offspring bone health assessed via bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover biomarkers, and fracture risk using DXA, QUS, and biochemical markers.
- Acknowledged heterogeneity in vitamin D thresholds, measurement timing, and follow-up duration across studies.
Main Results:
- Findings were heterogeneous and often sex-specific; some studies linked higher maternal 25(OH)D to increased offspring BMC/BMD, especially in males.
- Other studies found no significant association after controlling for confounders.
- Biomarker data suggested an inverse relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency and fetal bone turnover, but evidence on prenatal supplementation benefits for long-term skeletal health remains inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Maternal vitamin D status influences offspring bone development in a complex, multifactorial way.
- Child sex, timing of deficiency during gestation, and genetic factors may modify these effects.
- Future research needs standardized protocols and broader geographic representation, especially from Southeast Asia, to guide public health policies.
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