Restless legs syndrome 3X more likely during pregnancy (low vitamin D)

Restless legs syndrome and pregnancy:

prevalence, possible pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, online 19 OCT 2015, DOI: 10.1111/ane.12520

R. Gupta 1, M. Dhyani 1, T. Kendzerska 2, S. R. Pandi-Perumal 3, A. S. BaHammam 4,5, P. Srivanitchapoom 6,7, S. Pandey 8 and M. Hallett 6

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder that may be associated with pregnancy. Studies have found that the prevalence of RLS among pregnant women ranged from 10 to 34%. Typically, there is complete remission of symptoms soon after parturition; however, in some patients, they may continue postpartum.

RLS has been shown to be associated with a number of complications in pregnancy including

• preeclampsia and

• increased incidence of Cesarean sections.

Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain this association, each individual hypothesis cannot completely explain the whole pathogenesis. Present understanding suggests that a

• strong family history,

• low serum iron and ferritin level , and

• high estrogen level during pregnancy might play important roles.

• Vitamin D deficiency and calcium metabolism may also play a role.

Medical treatment of RLS during pregnancy is difficult and challenging considering the risks to mother and fetus. However, in some cases, the disease may be severe enough to require treatment.

Publisher rents PDF for $6

The study says

Pregnant women with RLS reported more complications related to pregnancy and labor such as

• threatened abortion,

• premature labor,

• difficult delivery, and

• intrauterine growth retardation;

  •       however, the results were only marginally significant

Also – increased risk of preeclampsia in RLS pregnant women

Note: Iron, Magnesium, and Vitamin D each reduce RLS

See also VitaminDWiki

• Restless Legs Syndrome - Vitamin D, Iron, etc. - many studies

• Restless legs and growing pains may be both due to low vitamin D – Sept 2013 nice Venn diagram

• Restless legs syndrome 5X more likely if low vitamin D – May 2014

• Iron deficiency is a cause of Vitamin D deficiency

• Low vitamin D - anemia 2.2X more likely (no surprise) – meta-analysis Aug 2015

• 5X more likely to be vitamin D deficient if anemic - Dec 2012

  Pages listed in BOTH of the categories Iron and Pregnancy

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See also web

• Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease and Pregnancy Sept 2015
  • “ 3-fold more prevalent in pregnant than in non-pregnant women”
• A prospective study of Willis-Ekbom disease/restless legs syndrome during and after pregnancy Sept 2015
  • RLS prevalence:
  • 16% 1st trimester,
  • 33% 2nd,
  • 39% 3rd
  • 📄 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki