Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: a nested case-control study

• Published in: BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2023-05, Vol.23 (1), p.322-322, Article 322
• Main Authors: Tahsin, Tashnia, Khanam, Rasheda, Chowdhury, Nabidul Haque, Hasan, A S M Tarik, Hosen, Md Biplob, Rahman, Sayedur, Roy, Anjan Kumar, Ahmed, Salahuddin, Raqib, Rubhana, Baqui, Abdullah H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bangladesh; Case-Control Studies; Female; Households; Humans; Immunoassay; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Metabolism; Mothers; Nested case-control study; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - epidemiology; Premature birth; Premature Birth - epidemiology; Premature Birth - etiology; Preterm birth; Regression analysis; Sample size; Serum vitamin D; Ultrasonic imaging; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin deficiency; Womens health
• ISSN: 1471-2393; 1471-2393
• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05636-z

Each year, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm. Micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency (VDD), are common in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and these conditions are often associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Bangladesh experiences a high prevalence of VDD. The country also has a high preterm birth (PTB) rate. Using data from a population-based pregnancy cohort, we estimated the burden of VDD during pregnancy and its association with PTB. Pregnant women (N = 3,000) were enrolled after ultrasound confirmation of gestational age at 8-19 weeks of gestation. Trained health workers prospectively collected phenotypic and epidemiological data at scheduled home visits. Trained phlebotomists collected maternal blood samples at enrollment and 24 -28 weeks of gestation. Aliquots of serum were stored at -80 C. We conducted a nested case-control study with all PTB (n = 262) and a random sample of term births (n = 668). The outcome, PTB, was defined as live births