Low Vitamin D Levels May Increase Preeclampsia Risk

Low Vitamin D Levels May Increase Preeclampsia Risk

Vitamin D is integral to maintaining bone health, and a deficiency can lead to health problems ranging from osteoporosis to increased cancer risk. It works by helping the body absorb calcium from food and supplements, and it may also improve muscle strength and protect against type 2 diabetes. A new study has added to the evidence that sufficient vitamin D levels are important to overall health by finding a link between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia in pregnant women. This is a life-threatening complication that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The research, “Maternal Vitamin D Status and the Risk of Mild and Severe Preeclampsia,” was presented online in the journal Epidemiology.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine, and McGill University in Montreal evaluated vitamin D levels in 700 pregnant women who later developed preeclampsia. Blood samples from 3,000 pregnant subjects who did not develop preeclampsia were also studied. The results showed that pregnant women with sufficient levels of vitamin D decreased their risk of severe preeclampsia by 40%, even when other factors—such as race, body mass index, number of pregnancies, smoking, diet, physical activity, and sunlight exposure—were controlled. No association between vitamin D and mild preeclampsia was found. Regardless of vitamin D status, the overall risk of severe preeclampsia in the subjects sampled was 0.6%.

The authors suggest that further study is warranted, and that reducing the risk of severe preeclampsia by treating vitamin D deficiency holds much potential. Until additional research is conducted, however, they advise against pregnant women automatically taking a vitamin D supplement.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

February 2014