Scientists have pointed to the role of vitamin D in pregnancy

Scientists from the Medical University of South Carolina have found a link between low vitamin D levels in pregnant women and earlier delivery. The researchers analyzed data from more than 15,000 pregnancies and found that the lowest vitamin D levels were more common in women who gave birth prematurely. About how vitamin D levels can be related to the duration of pregnancy and what is known about the possible mechanisms of this relationship, see the "Izvestia" material.

Vitamin D and gestation period

The study was conducted by scientists from the Medical University of South Carolina, led by neonatologist and pediatrician Carol L. Wagner and medical student Anjali J. Borsum. The work was published in the scientific journal Journal of Perinatology (JP). The researchers used electronic medical records of women who gave birth at the Medical University of South Carolina from January 2016 to March 2024 and tested for 25-hydroxyvitamin D during pregnancy, the main indicator of the body's vitamin D supply. In total, the analysis included data from 15,506 pregnancies.

Premature labor was considered to be delivered before the 37th week of pregnancy, and very premature - before the 32nd week. Of all the participants, 1,652 women gave birth before 37 weeks, and 385 more gave birth before 32 weeks. The average concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in women with preterm birth was 31.3 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). Those who gave birth at 37 weeks or later had a higher rate of 34.8 ng/ml.

The difference was even more noticeable among women with very premature births. Their average vitamin D concentration was 26.2 ng/ml. Thus, the lowest rates were observed in the participants with the earliest births. At the same time, the study was observational, so its results show a statistical relationship between the indicators, but do not prove that low vitamin D levels directly cause premature birth.

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Why does the body need vitamin D during pregnancy

According to the authors of the study, vitamin D is involved in the work of many genes and can affect processes that are especially important during pregnancy. In particular, scientists are considering its possible involvement in the regulation of the maternal immune response. This is important because during pregnancy, the immune system must adapt to the presence of the fetus.

The researchers also note a possible connection of vitamin D with inflammatory processes and the functioning of the placenta. Previously, other studies had also reported on the relationship between maternal vitamin D levels and the risk of premature birth, but the results of the studies varied depending on the design and the study group.

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How often do pregnant women have low vitamin D levels?

In the new study, 44.8% of the participants had concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D below 30 ng/ml, and 66.2% had concentrations below 40 ng/ml. At the same time, the authors note that some researchers suggest considering a value of about 40 ng/ml as optimal for pregnancy, but there is not yet a single threshold that could be considered universal for all pregnant women.

The issue of adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy remains a subject of scientific debate. Previous studies have examined different thresholds and different pregnancy dates, so the results may not always be directly comparable.

The authors of the new study emphasize that vitamin D levels in early pregnancy may be particularly important. Previous studies cited in the article indicate a possible association of indicators measured in the first trimester with subsequent pregnancy outcomes. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal vitamin D levels and the time when vitamin D deficiency is most important.

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Is it possible to prevent premature birth with vitamin D

The results of the study do not allow us to conclude that taking vitamin D can prevent premature birth. The researchers studied the already available medical data and compared the concentration of vitamin D in women with different periods of labor. This makes it possible to detect statistical relationships, but not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

The authors believe that the results obtained support the need for further study of the role of vitamin D during pregnancy. In particular, it remains to be seen whether correcting low vitamin D levels is important for the duration of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. The researchers also note the need to determine optimal thresholds and the most important periods for assessing vitamin D availability.

Thus, the new work complements the results of previous studies that linked lower vitamin D concentrations with earlier births. However, so far, scientific evidence suggests a link, rather than a proven preventive effect of increasing vitamin D levels.