Vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms in pregnancy are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes

This study was a secondary data analysis of prospective data collected from a cohort of pregnant women (N  = 101) in an obstetric clinic of a large medical center. Maternal vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D ≤ 20 ng/ml) and depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS) were assessed in early pregnancy. A composite of four adverse perinatal outcomes (low birth weight, prete rm birth, small-for-gestational age, and preeclampsia) were abstracted from medical charts. Nineteen of the 101 women had one or more adverse perinatal outcome and 84% with an adverse outcome (16/19) were not White. Both prenatal and time of delivery vitamin D deficiency were associated with develop ing an adverse outcome compared to those vitamin D sufficient (prenatal relative risk 3.43; 95% CI 1.60–7.34,p = 0.004; delivery time relative risk 5.14, 95% CI 2.68–9.86,p = 0.004). These both remained significant after adjusting for BMI. A higher rate of adverse outcome was found when women had both prenatal vitamin D deficiency and elevated depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 10). Sixty percent with both risk factors had an adverse perinatal outcome versus 17% wi th only one or neither risk factor (relative risk 3.60; 95% CI 1.55–8.38,p = 0.045), worthy of investigation with larger samples. Together, prenatal vitamin D deficiency and elevated depressive symptoms in pregnancy may increase risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, especially in racial minorities. Obstet...
Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research