Vitamin D and Risk of Pregnancy-related Hypertensive Disorders: Mendelian Randomization Study

(BMJ. 2018;361:k2477) Pregnant women commonly have low vitamin D levels, and this might be a causal factor in the development of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Previous meta-analyses have suggested an association between a low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and an increased risk of preeclampsia, but these results may be biased. One recent meta-analysis did not find strong evidence that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy had a protective effect in preventing preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. This current study used mendelian randomization to triangulate findings from studies varying in design and investigate the causal effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels on pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders.
Source: Obstetric Anesthesia Digest - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Mechanisms, Equipment, Hazards Source Type: research