Maternal Vitamin D and its role in determining fetal origins of mental health.

Maternal Vitamin D and its role in determining fetal origins of mental health. Curr Pharm Des. 2020 May 05;: Authors: Lisi G, Ribolsi M, Siracusano A, Niolu C Abstract There is evidence that mental health disorders may have roots in fetal life and are associated with deficiencies in various micronutrients, including vitamin D. During pregnancy, vitamin D homeostasis is influenced by an increase in maternal calcitriol and a substantial increase in maternal Vitamin D Binding Protein concentrations. In the early stages of life, vitamin D is necessary to mediate numerous brain processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and neurotransmission. Furthermore, Vitamin D has a recognized anti-inflammatory activity that normally suppresses inflammation. Increased activation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and inflammatory responses during pregnancy can affect maternal health and fetal neurodevelopment during and beyond pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency and maternal stress during pregnancy, including perinatal depression, may both contribute to alter the efficacy of the immune system and modulate its activity. An association between Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and a reduction in fetal brain development has been widely described and correlated with alteration in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. To this regard, a growing body of evidence highlights that low maternal vitamin D dosage during pregnancy has been...
Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Curr Pharm Des Source Type: research