Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 57-63
Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy: An Independent Risk Factor for Increased Maternal and Foetal Co-Morbidities
Aanchal Sablok1*, Aruna Batra2*, Achla Batra3*, Deeksha Joshi1*, Abha Aggarwal4, B C Kabi3**, Harish Chellani3***
1Senior Resident, 2Professor and Head, 3Professor,
*Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
4Scientist F, National Institute of Medical Statistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
**Department of Biochemistry, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
***Department of Pediatrics, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Corresponding Author: Aanchal Sablok
ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in all parts of the world. Pregnant women and neonates are highly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of maternal 25(OH)-D status on the risk of development of preeclampsia (PE) and pre-term labour (PTL). Materials and methods: 165 pregnant women were followed from less than 20 weeks of gestation to delivery (2015-2016) at a prenatal clinic in a tertiary care center. Development of maternal co-morbidities like pre-term labour/pre-term birth (PTL/PTB), gestational hypertension/ pre-eclampsia (GHTN/PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were noted. The maternal and cord blood was taken at the time of delivery and association between vitamin D concentration and the risk of development of maternal comorbidities was analyzed. Results: Women whose 25(OH)-D levels were < 25nmol/L at delivery, 20.4% (16/83) had PTL and 24.1% (20/83) had GHTN/PE; whereas in those with levels > 50nmol/L, only 2.5% (1/37) had PTL and 2.7% (1/37) had GHTN/PE. Statistical analysis revealed that vitamin D levels >25nmol/L had a protective effect against the development of PTL (OR 0.05) and GHTN/PE (OR 0.13). Conclusion: maternal vitamin D deficiency may be an independent risk factor for PE and PTL. Vitamin D supplementation in early pregnancy should be explored for preventing PE and PTL and for promoting neonatal well-being.
Key words: vitamin D, preterm labour, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension