Role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of preterm labour
Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2015; 4(1): 86-93doi: 10.5455/2320-1770.ijrcog20150217
Jyoti Singh, Chella Hariharan, Dilip Bhaumik.
Background: Although vitamin D insufficiency is increasingly recognized as a health problem across the world, inadequate vitamin D status appears to be particularly prevalent in certain populations such as the elderly and pregnant women. With respect to the latter, impaired vitamin D status during gestation is associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as preterm birth and poor neonatal outcome.
Methods: A total of 100 healthy, pregnant women in Sawangi, Meghe, Wardha, were recruited in 2012. Of these, 50 were randomised to receive either 2000 IU (study group) of vitamin D3 per day from 12-16 weeks of gestation of pregnancy. The remaining 50 pregnant women, who formed the control group were not supplemented with any drug. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in maternal blood was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, at recruitment and at the time of delivery and a serum 25(OH)D level <30 nmol/l was defined as deficiency.
Results: Patients had deficiency of vitamin D at baseline (80.00%) was converted into sufficient level (76.00%) in cases after vitamin D supplementation. It was statistically significant at 5% level as P value <0.05 and there was also evidence in reduction of preterm birth.
Conclusions: Maternal vitamin D deficiency is associated with significant increase risk for premature birth with P = 0.001. Maternal serum vitamin D sufficiency can be achieved by supplementing pregnant women with 2000 IU vitamin D supplements.
Effect of vitamin D supplementation
| Cases (Vit D) | Control | ||||
| Age | 23.94 ± 1.45 | 25.02 ± 1.23 | |||
| Gestational age at recruitment (Mean) | 14.54 ± 1.24 | 15.68 ± 1.23 | |||
| Gestational age at delivery (Mean) | 38.10 ± 2.35 | 35.10 ± 1.23 | |||
| Vitamin D levels at recruitment (nmol/L) | 3.69 ± 10.57 | 9.45 ± 11.65 | |||
| Vitamin D levels at delivery (nmol/L) | 29.85 ± 9.85 | 25.46 ± 3.69 | |||
| Preterm birth | 12% | 30% | |||
| Caesarean section | 8% | 38% | |||
| Apgar score 1 Min | 8.38 ± 1.23 | 7.10 ± 0.73 | |||
| Apgar score 5 Min | 9.44 ± 1.10 | 8.58 ± 1.75 | |||
| Birth weight | 3.16 ± 0.58 | 2.33 ± 0.52 | |||
Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
See also VitaminDWiki
- Women taking 4,000 IU reduced pregnancy risks in half RCT May 2010
- Preterm birth rate reduced 57 percent by Vitamin D – Nov 2015
- Low vitamin D increased probability of low birth weight by 60 percent – meta-analysis June 2012
- Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D has the following summary
| IU | Cumulative Benefit | Blood level | Cofactors | Calcium | $*/month |
| 200 | Better bones for mom with 600 mg of Calcium | 6 ng/ml increase | Not needed | No effect | $0.10 |
| 400 | Less Rickets (but not zero with 400 IU) 3X less adolescent Schizophrenia Fewer child seizures | 20-30 ng/ml | Not needed | No effect | $0.20 |
| 2000 | 2X More likely to get pregnant naturally/IVF 2X Fewer dental problems with pregnancy 8X less diabetes 4X fewer C-sections (>37 ng) 4X less preeclampsia (40 ng vs 10 ng) 5X less child asthma 2X fewer language problems age 5 | 42 ng/ml | Desirable | < 750 mg | $1 |
| 4000 | 2X fewer pregnancy complications 2X fewer pre-term births | 49 ng/ml | Should have cofactors | < 750 mg | $3 |
| 6000 | Probable: larger benefits for above items Just enough D for breastfed infant More maternal and infant weight | Should have cofactors | < 750 mg | $4 |