Role of Vitamin D in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes

Pregnancy is a critical time in the lifecycle of a woman where she is responsible not only for her own well-being, but also that of her developing fetus. Until recently, the impact of vitamin D status during this period had not been fully appreciated. To what extent does the circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH]D) concentration help to meet the physiological needs of humans is an ongoing subject of debate. Vitamin D through its effect on immune function and surveillance plays a role beyond calcium and bone metabolism on the health status of both the mother and her fetus. Thus by learning effect of supplementing vitamin D on maternal and perinatal outcomes, we can individualize its role in a safe manner. Interventional studies have also evaluated the effect of vitamin D for reduction on preterm birth and asthma programming. Thus maternal deficiency predicts fetal and infant deficiency of vitamin D. The importance and impact of this on maternal and fetal outcomes will be discussed in this review.