Association of vitamin D with fatty acids in pregnancy

•Lower maternal and cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in women with preeclampsia as compared to normotensive control women.•Lower maternal plasma levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) but higher levels of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in preeclampsia group.•Maternal 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with maternal PUFA but negatively associated with maternal total SFA and total MUFA. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication, associated with an increased risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The etiology of preeclampsia is not yet fully understood, although the current literature indicates an up regulation of inflammatory mediators. Vitamin D is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and influence vascular function. Fatty acids are also known to regulate inflammation in pregnancy. This study was carried out to explore the association of maternal vitamin D and fatty acids in pregnancy. The present study includes 69 normotensive control (NC) and 50 women with preeclampsia (PE). Maternal and cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were lower (p