Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation during pregnancy

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2009-05, Vol.70 (5), p.685-690
• Main Authors: Yu, C. K. H., Sykes, L., Sethi, M., Teoh, T. G., Robinson, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Endocrinopathies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Pregnancy Complications - drug therapy; Prospective Studies; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vitamin D - administration & dosage; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - drug therapy; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2008.03403.x

Summary Objective  Vitamin D is essential for skeletal health and prolonged deficiency results in infantile rickets and adult osteomalacia. The aim of this study is to determine the vitamin D status in pregnancy and to evaluate the effects of daily and of single‐dose vitamin D supplementation. Design  A prospective randomized study at St Mary's Hospital London. Patients A total of 180 women (Indian Asian, Middle Eastern, Black and Caucasian) were recruited at 27 weeks gestation and randomized into three treatment groups: a single oral dose of 200 000 IU vitamin D, a daily supplement of 800 IU vitamin D from 27 weeks until delivery and a no treatment group. Measurements  Vitamin D (25‐hydroxyvitamin D), PTH and corrected calcium levels in mothers at 27 weeks and at delivery and cord 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and corrected calcium levels. Results  The final maternal 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in the supplemented group [daily dose (median) 42 (IQR 31–76) nmol/l, stat dose (median) 34 (IQR 30–46) nmol/l vs. median 27 (IQR 27–39) nmol/l in the no treatment; P