Objectives: This placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of prophylactic vitamin D supplemental therapy (VD-ST) started at time of pregnancy diagnosis on pregnancy-induced morbidities.
Patients & Methods: 200 newly pregnant women were randomly divided into control group received placebo and study group received VD-ST as a daily oral dose of 1000 IU started at time of pregnancy diagnosis after giving blood sample for estimation of baseline levels of 25-hydroxy VD (25-OHVD). during follow-up visits, all pregnant women were clinically evaluated for development of disturbed pregnancy, or manifestations suggestive of development of pregnancy-induced anemia (PIA), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or Pre-eclampsia (PE). Study outcomes included incidence of pregnancy-associated morbidities and its relation to receiving VD-ST regarding incidence and severity
Results: 17 women had sufficient, 43 women had insufficient and 140 women had deficient 25-OHVD levels. Total number of women had disturbed pregnancy, PIA, PE and GDM was significantly lower among women of study versus control group. Extent of decrease in hemoglobin concentration at 3rd trimester was significantly lower with VD-ST compared to placebo. VD-ST reduced the frequency of PE, severe and early PE by 2.1, 3.5 and 6 folds, respectively and reduced the frequency of GDM by 2.4 folds in comparison to placebo. There was negative significant correlation between receiving VD-ST and incidence of PIA, GDM and PE (p=0.016, 0.023 and 0.032, respectively).
Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D (HVD) is prevalent among apparently healthy newly pregnant women. HVD is positively related to the majority of pregnancy-associated morbidities. VD-ST appeared to minimize the insult of HVD on pregnant women concerning both the incidence and severity of morbidities. VD-ST started at time of diagnosis of pregnancy and given in a dose of 1000 IU/day is an appropriate safe prophylactic modality for pregnant woman, irrespective of her baseline serum 25-OHVD. |
