Impact of vitamin D on pregnancy-related disorders and on offspring outcome

Publication date: June 2018Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Volume 180Author(s): Karoline von Websky, Ahmed Abdallah Hasan, Christoph Reichetzeder, Oleg Tsuprykov, Berthold HocherAbstractObservational studies from all over the world continue to find high prevalence rates of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in many populations, including pregnant women. Beyond its classical function as a regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism, vitamin D elicits numerous effects in the human body. Current evidence highlights a vital role of vitamin D in mammalian gestation. During pregnancy, adaptations in maternal vitamin D metabolism lead to a physiologic increase of vitamin D levels, mainly because of an increased renal production, although other potential sources like the placenta are being discussed. A sufficient supply of mother and child with calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy ensures a healthy bone development of the fetus, whereas lack of either of these nutrients can lead to the development of rickets in the child. Moreover, vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy has consistently been associated with adverse maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes. In multitudinous studies, low maternal vitamin D status was associated with a higher risk for preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and other gestational diseases. Likewise, several negative consequences for the fetus have been reported, including fetal growth restriction, increase...
Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research