Vitamin D intervention for 8 weeks of pregnancy: infants taller, heavier and bigger heads – RCT Oct 2013

Effect of treatment of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency during pregnancy on fetal growth indices and maternal weight gain: a randomized clinical trial

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Available online 19 October 2013
Sima Hashemipour,
Amir Ziaee,
Fatemeh Lalooha, lalooha44@yahoo.com
Farideh Movahed,
Khadijeh Elmizadeh
Metabolic Diseases Research Centre, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran

Objective To determine whether treatment of low serum vitamin D in pregnant women improves fetal growth indices.

Study design: In this open-label randomized clinical trial, 130 Iranian pregnant women (24–26 weeks of gestation) with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency [25(OH)D <30 ng/ml] were divided at random into an intervention group and a control group. The control group received 200 mg calcium plus a multivitamin (containing vitamin D3 400 U) each day, and the intervention group received 200 mg calcium plus a multivitamin (containing vitamin D3 400 U) each day, plus vitamin D3 (50,000 U) each week for 8 weeks. At delivery, maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D levels, maternal weight gain, neonatal length, neonatal weight and neonatal head circumference were compared between two groups. Serum vitamin D was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the independent effect of maternal vitamin D level on fetal growth indices.

Results Mean (±standard deviation)

  • length (intervention group: 49 ± 1.6 cm; control group: 48.2 ± 1.7 cm; p = 0.001),
  • head circumference (intervention group: 35.9 ± 0.7 cm; control group: 35.3 ± 1.0 cm; p = 0.001) and
  • weight (intervention group: 3429 ± 351.9 g; control group: 3258.8 ± 328.2 g; p = 0.01)

were higher in the intervention group compared with the control group.
Mean maternal weight gain was higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (13.3 ± 2.4 kg vs 11.7 ± 2.7 kg; p = 0.006).
Multivariate regression analysis for maternal weight gain, neonatal length, neonatal weight and neonatal head circumference showed an independent correlation with maternal vitamin D level.

Conclusion Treatment of low serum vitamin D during pregnancy improves fetal growth indices and maternal weight gain.


See also VitaminDWiki

15457 visitors, last modified 04 Feb, 2020,
Printer Friendly Follow this page for updates