Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy and Its Correlation with Fetomaternal Outcome

Vitamin D is known as Sunshine vitamin which mainly helps in bone metabolism. It is estimated that one billion people have vitamin D deficiency and it is considered as a public health problem. Aim: To measure vitamin D levels in 1st trimester and reassess level of vitamin D in 3rd trimester after treatment. To evaluate its correlation with fetomaternal outcome. Study Design: It is a prospective observational study of 100 pregnant women booked in the 1st trimester and serum vitamin D level tested. Women who were found insufficient (vitamin D level<30ng/ml) were counseled and supplemented in second trimester. Serum vitamin D is tested again in 3rd trimester. Maternal complications and fetal outcome measured complications like preeclampsia and preterm birth recorded. Observation and Results: In our study the mean vitamin D level was 17.8±7.05 ng/ml, vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/ml) was seen in 69% females, insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml) in 24%. Supplementation was done in 40 vitamin D deficient women. The mean vitamin D level in the 1st trimester increased from 16.88±4.490 to 30.02±5.767 in third trimester (p value = 0.0001). Among the females who were supplemented with vitamin D, only 1 (2.5%) developed preeclampsia and 2 (5%) females developed preterm birth. Conclusion: The present study concludes that there is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with preeclampsia and preterm birth. Supplementation of vitamin D is safe and it increases vitamin D levels significantly in 3rd trimester as well as the birth weight of the fetus.