Supplementation of vitamin D in pregnancy and its correlation with feto-maternal outcome

Summary Context Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent throughout the world. Pregnant women, neonates and infants form most vulnerable groups for vitamin D deficiency. Objective (1) To find prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women. (2) To evaluate the effect of supplementation with cholecalciferol in improving vitamin D levels in pregnant women and evaluate its correlation with feto‐maternal outcome. Design Randomized control trial from years 2010 to 2012. Setting Tertiary care centre, Delhi, India. Participants One‐hundred and eighty pregnant women. Study population divided randomly into two groups: group A: nonintervention (60 women) and group B: intervention (120 women). Intervention The intervention group received supplementation of vitamin D in dosages depending upon 25(OH)‐D levels. Main outcome measures Risk of maternal complications such as preterm labour, pre‐eclampsia and gestational diabetes associated with vitamin D deficiency and risk of low birthweight and poor Apgar score in infants of mothers with vitamin D deficiency. Results Adjusted serum 25(OH)‐D concentration was lower in group A as compared to group B (mean 46·11 ± 74·21 nmol/l vs 80 ± 51·53 nmol/l). Forty‐four percent patients in group A and 20·3% patients in group B developed preterm labour/pre‐eclampsia/gestational diabetes. Newborns of mothers in group A had lower cord blood levels of 25(OH)‐D levels as compared to group B (mean 43·11 ± 81·32 nmol/l vs 56·8 ± 47·52 nmol/l). They also had lower birthweight of mean 2·4 ± 0·38 kg as compared to group B 2·6 ± 0·33 kg. Conclusions Vitamin D supplementation reduces risk of maternal comorbidities and helps improve neonatal outcomes.