Can vitamin D during pregnancy lower the risk of preeclampsia and preterm labor?
Summary by Jennifer Mitchell, MPH, PhD
Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can happen during pregnancy and affects 2-8% of pregnancies around the world. It can cause health problems for both the mother and the baby. Some studies suggest that not having enough vitamin D might increase the risk of preeclampsia, but it is still unclear whether taking vitamin D during pregnancy can help prevent it.
This study looked at how taking vitamin D supplements might affect the chance of getting preeclampsia and other pregnancy outcomes for both mothers and babies.
The researchers looked at many studies about Vitamin D and preeclampsia risk published in different scientific journals until August 2024. They focused on trials where pregnant women took vitamin D supplements in different amounts and compared it to a placebo (a fake pill) or regular care. The main things they looked at were how often preeclampsia and preterm labor happened (meaning delivery before 37 weeks of gestation). They also looked at blood levels of vitamin D, the baby's birth weight, and the baby's Apgar score (a quick test to check the baby’s health right after birth).
The study included 33 trials with 10,613 pregnant women. The results showed that taking vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of preeclampsia by almost 45% and reduced the risk of early labor by 30%. These findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating vitamin D supplementation into prenatal care to improve maternal health. There was not a large difference in birth weight or the baby's health score at 5 minutes after birth.
Take home message: Taking vitamin D during pregnancy, especially in patients who may be low in vitamin D, appears to lower the chances of getting preeclampsia and experiencing early labor. More research is needed to understand how vitamin D impacts the health of newborns. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about your vitamin D level during pregnancy and whether supplementation may be recommended for you based on your risk factors.
Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Citation: Moghib K, Ghanm TI, Abunamoos A, Rajabi M, Moawad SM, Mohsen A, Kasem S, Elsayed K, Sayed M, Dawoud AI, Salomon I, Elmaghreby A, Ismail M, Amer A. Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Dec 23;24(1):852. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-07081-y. PMID: 39716171; PMCID: PMC11668112.
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