Publication:

of vitamin D deficiency with occurrence of pre eclampsia among inpatients of tertiary care centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background Pre eclampsia has remained a significant public health threat in both developed and developing countries contributing to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. Vitamin D has direct influence on molecular pathways proposed to be important in the pathogenesis of pre eclampsia, yet the vitamin D-pre eclampsia relation has seldom been studied. In the present study we aimed to assess the association of vitamin D deficiency with the occurrence of pre eclampsia. If indeed vitamin D deficiency is related to pre eclampsia, this correlation can inform future studies, which hopefully will ultimately lead to a decrease in the incidence of pre eclampsia hence a decrease in adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods We conducted a comparative cross sectional study carried out for a period of one year from August 2014 to July 2015. A total of 384 patients were selected. 192 pre eclamptic and 192 non pre eclamptic pregnant patients aged 16-45 years attending in-patient department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology BRD Medical college Gorakhpur were included in the study.

Results About 82.8% of pre eclamptic and 31.25% of non pre eclamptic patients were found deficient in vitamin D. Also, severe pre eclamptic patients had more severe deficiency of vitamin D. Majority of these patients (51.78%) had very low vitamin D concentration.

Conclusions Maternal vitamin D deficiency may be an independent risk factor for preeclampsia. Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy should be explored for preventing preeclampsia and promoting neonatal well-being.