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Implications of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and lactation – May 2010

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 202, Issue 5 , Pages 429.e1-429.e9, May 2010

  • Megan L. Mulligan, BA; New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • Shaili K. Felton, MD; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • Amy E. Riek, MD; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, MD; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

o Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8127, 660 South Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Received 30 March 2009; received in revised form 26 June 2009; accepted 1 September 2009. published online 21 October 2009.

Vitamin D is an essential fat soluble vitamin and a key modulator of calcium metabolism in children and adults. Because calcium demands increase in the third trimester of pregnancy, vitamin D status becomes crucial for maternal health, fetal skeletal growth, and optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women (5-50%) and in breastfed infants (10-56%), despite the widespread use of prenatal vitamins, because these are inadequate to maintain normal vitamin D levels (?32 ng/mL). Adverse health outcomes such as preeclampsia, low birthweight, neonatal hypocalcemia, poor postnatal growth, bone fragility, and increased incidence of autoimmune diseases have been linked to low vitamin D levels during pregnancy and infancy. Studies are underway to establish the recommended daily doses of vitamin D in pregnant women. This review discusses vitamin D metabolism and the implications of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and lactation.



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This 2010 study mentions a 2007 study: "Patients with 25(OH)D levels 15 ng/mL had a 5-fold increase in the risk of preeclampsia"
Bodnar LM, Catov JM, Simhan HN, Holick MF, Powers RW, Roberts JM.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92:3517-22.
Which had a 4.6 X increased risk after compensating for Calcium (for those with < 15 ng)
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