Publication:

Role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of preterm labour

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.