Systematic review and meta-analysis of Spanish studies regarding the association between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and perinatal outcomes

Review: Influence of 25(OH)D Blood Concentration and Supplementation during Pregnancy on Preeclampsia Development and Neonatal Outcomes

Briefly, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) plays an essential role in embryogenesis and the course of intra- and postnatal periods and is crucially involved in the functioning of the mother-placenta-fetus system. The low quantity of 25(OH)D during pregnancy can lead to an elevated risk for preeclampsia occurrence. Despite the numerous studies on the association of 25(OH)D deficiency and preeclampsia development, the current research on this theme is contradictory. In this review, we summarize and analyze study data on the effects of 25(OH)D deficiency and supplementation on pregnancy, labor, and fetal and neonatal outcomes.

Association of serum vitamin D status with gestational diabetes mellitus and other laboratory parameters in early pregnant women

Background

The association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) status and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) gained attention in recent years, however the conclusion is still controversial due to many interfering factors, such as region of living, environment, lifestyle, and food supplements. Other metabolites (laboratory parameters) are also important in reflecting gestational states. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum 25(OH)D status in early pregnancy with GDM and other laboratory parameters in pregnant women.

Methods

A total of 1516 pregnant women whose blood glucose were normal before pregnancy in the city of Foshan in Guangdong, China were enrolled in this study. GDM was diagnosed between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy following the guidelines from the American Diabetes Association. Maternal serum 25(OH)D and other laboratory parameters—including hematology, coagulation, chemistry, and bone density—were measured utilizing various analytical methods in clinical laboratory at gestational weeks 11 to 14.

Results

The average 25(OH)D concentration was 59.1 ± 12.6 nmol/L. None of the study subjects had 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L; 434 (28.6%) women had 25(OH)D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L), 882 women (58.2%) had 25(OH)D insufficiency (50–74 mmol/L) and 200 women (13.2%) had 25(OH)D sufficiency (≥ 75 nmol/L). There were 264 (17.4%) women diagnosed with GDM. There was not, however, an association between serum 25(OH)D in early pregnancy and GDM. Interestingly, women with more parity and high serum alkaline phosphatase levels had higher serum 25(OH)D levels. There was a possible positive association between serum 25(OH)D and pre-albumin, and a possible negative association between serum 25(OH)D, creatinine, and thrombin time. This study did not find an association between serum 25(OH)D and bone density.

Conclusions

There were no associations between maternal serum 25(OH)D concentration in early pregnancy and the risk of GDM or bone density. There were, however, correlations between serum 25(OH)D and parity, seasoning at sampling, serum alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, pre-albumin, and coagulation factor thrombin time, which need further study to explain their pathophysiology and clinical significance.

Effect of maternal vitamin D status on risk of adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies

PURPOSE

Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the dose-response relationship between maternal vitamin D status and adverse birth outcomes remains unclear. Focusing on prospective observational studies, we aimed to explore the dose-response relationship of vitamin D status with the risk of low birth weight (LBW), macrosomia (MA), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

METHODS

Databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were used up to 19 January 2021 to search for observational studies that fulfilled criteria as follows: cohort studies, case-cohort studies, or nested case-control studies. Random-effects models were used to pool relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the observational studies.

RESULTS

A total of 72 publications were included in this systematic review and 71 in the meta-analysis. Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were inversely associated with the risk of LBW (RR: 0.65; 95% CI 0.48-0.86), PTB (RR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.57-0.79), and SGA (RR: 0.61; 95% CI 0.49-0.76) in the highest versus lowest meta-analysis, but not associated with MA and IUGR. Linear dose-response analysis showed that each 25 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D was associated with a 6% and 10% reduction in the risk of PTB (RR: 0.94; 95% CI 0.90-0.98) and SGA (RR: 0.90; 95% CI 0.84-0.97), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that a sufficient vitamin D status during pregnancy is protective against the risk of LBW, PTB, and SGA.

Association between maternal vitamin D levels and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Epidemiological studies have investigated the associations between vitamin D and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the results are conflicting and dose-response relationships remain to be confirmed. This study aimed to summarize previous studies on the associations of vitamin D levels with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pre-eclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension (GH), and caesarean section (C-section), and to clarify the dose-response trends. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify eligible articles. A total of 69 prospective observational studies including cohort studies, case-cohort studies, or nested case-control studies were included in the current systematic review, of which 68 studies were available for meta-analysis. Compared with the lowest level, the highest level of 25(OH)D was significantly associated with a lower risk of GDM (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66-0.87), PE (RR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.60-0.90;), and GH (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.79-0.97); however, no significant relationship was found for C-section (RR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.90-1.12). There was significant between-study heterogeneity for GDM (I² = 69.2%; P_{heterogeneity} < 0.001), PE (I² = 52.0%; P_{heterogeneity} = 0.001), and C-section (I² = 59.1%; P_{heterogeneity} < 0.001), while no heterogeneity was found for GH (I² = 0.0%; P_{heterogeneity} = 0.676). For each 25 nmol L^-1 increase in 25(OH)D, the pooled RR was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86-0.97) for GDM and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84-0.94) for PE, respectively. Notably, the dose-response analysis showed a non-linear relationship between maternal 25(OH)D levels and the risk of PE (P_{non-linearity} = 0.009). Our meta-analysis provides further scientific evidence of the inverse association between 25(OH)D levels and the risk of GDM, PE, and GH, which may be useful for the prevention of pregnancy complications. However, more evidence from prospective studies is needed regarding the dietary intake of vitamin D during pregnancy.

Could Vitamin D Be Effective in Prevention of Preeclampsia?

Prevention of preeclampsia (PE) remains one of the most significant problems in perinatal medicine. Due to the possible unpredictable course of hypertension in pregnancy, primarily PE and the high complication rate for the mother and fetus/newborn, it is urgent to offer pregnant women in high-risk groups effective methods of preventing the PE development or delaying its appearance. In addition, due to the association of PE with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later life, effective preeclampsia prevention could also be important in reducing their incidence. Ideal PE prophylaxis should target the pathogenetic changes leading to the development of PE and be safe for the mother and fetus, inexpensive and freely available. Currently, the only recognized method of PE prevention recommended by many institutions around the world is the use of a small dose of acetylsalicylic acid in pregnant women with risk factors. Unfortunately, some cases of PE are diagnosed in women without recognized risk factors and in those in whom prophylaxis with acetylsalicylic acid is not adequate. Hence, new drugs which would target pathogenetic elements in the development of preeclampsia are studied. Vitamin D (Vit D) seems to be a promising agent due to its beneficial effect on placental implantation, the immune system, and angiogenic factors. Studies published so far emphasize the relationship of its deficiency with the development of PE, but the data on the benefits of its supplementation to reduce the risk of PE are inconclusive. In the light of current research, the key issue is determining the protective concentration of Vit D in a pregnant woman. The study aims to present the possibility of using Vit D to prevent PE, emphasizing its impact on the pathogenetic elements of preeclampsia development.

Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: an overview

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Examine recent evidence of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses regarding the effect of maternal vitamin D status and supplementation over obstetrical and offspring outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] progressively declines during pregnancy because of fetal physiological demands and adjustments. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in women with low vitamin D status may improve fetal growth and reduce the risks for small-for-gestational-age, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes. Mothers with sufficient vitamin D levels have offsprings with less enamel defects and less attention deficit and hyperactive disorders and autism. All pregnant women should be supplemented with 600 IU/day of vitamin D3. We discuss evidence indicating that higher vitamin D doses (1000-4000 IU/day) may be convenient to achieve better maternal and infant outcomes. Low maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may be associated in infants with a higher risk for lower bone mineral content, enamel defects and attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

SUMMARY

Recent evidence from vitamin D intervention studies and meta-analyses of a large number of studies support vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy to improve maternal, fetal and, immediate and later offspring health.

Association of vitamin D and gene variants in the vitamin D metabolic pathway with preterm birth

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the association of vitamin D (VitD) levels during pregnancy and its metabolic pathway genes with the risk for preterm birth (PTB) among pregnant women in southeast China.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Zhejiang, from August 2011 to May 2018. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in three trimesters and single-nucleotide morphisms in the VitD metabolic pathway were measured. Relevant information was collected using questionnaires and an electronic medical recorder system. Multiple statistical methods including linear regression, logistic regression, and crossover analysis were applied.

RESULTS

The prospective cohort study included 3465 pregnant women, of which 202 were PTB (week of gestation at delivery: 33.38 ± 4.05), accounting for 5.8%. After adjusting for potential confounders, VitD sufficiency (≥30 ng/mL) in the second and third trimesters was associated with longer gestational age at delivery compared with VitD deficiency (<20 ng/mL). However, no significant association was found between VitD with the risk for PTB. rs7041, rs10210408, and rs2228171 were associated with gestational week and the risk for PTB. Significant associations were found of rs10210408, rs2209314, rs1155563, rs2544381 and the status of VitD in the second and third trimester with the gestational week. We also found that rs7041 and VitD in the second trimester might exert interaction on gestational week and the risk for PTB (P_inter = 0.038; P_inter = 0.019); rs16846876 and VitD in the second trimester might exert interaction on gestational week (P_inter = 0.024); rs4334089 and VitD in the third trimester might exert interaction on gestational week (P_inter = 0.024). Similar results were found when we tested pregnant women's plasma 25(OH)D in the first and second trimesters.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with VitD deficiency were associated with shorter gestational weeks. Single-nucleotide morphisms in VitD metabolic pathway genes were significantly associated with gestation week and the risk for PTB, mainly in vitamin D-binding protein (GC) and low-density lipoprotein-related protein 2 (LRP2)genes. Additionally, maternal VitD with GC gene and maternal VitD with vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene might exert interactions on the risk for PTB.

Examining the predictive accuracy of metabolomics for small-for-gestational-age babies: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

To date, there is no robust enough test to predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, who are at increased lifelong risk of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the accuracy of metabolomics in predicting SGA babies and elucidate which metabolites are predictive of this condition.

DATA SOURCES

Two independent researchers explored 11 electronic databases and grey literature in February 2018 and November 2018, covering publications from 1998 to 2018. Both researchers performed data extraction and quality assessment independently. A third researcher resolved discrepancies.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Cohort or nested case-control studies were included which investigated pregnant women and performed metabolomics analysis to evaluate SGA infants. The primary outcome was birth weight <10th centile-as a surrogate for fetal growth restriction-by population-based or customised charts.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Two independent researchers extracted data on study design, obstetric variables and sampling, metabolomics technique, chemical class of metabolites, and prediction accuracy measures. Authors were contacted to provide additional data when necessary.

RESULTS

A total of 9181 references were retrieved. Of these, 273 were duplicate, 8760 were removed by title or abstract, and 133 were excluded by full-text content. Thus, 15 studies were included. Only two studies used the fifth centile as a cut-off, and most reports sampled second-trimester pregnant women. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was the most common metabolomics approach. Untargeted studies in the second trimester provided the largest number of predictive metabolites, using maternal blood or hair. Fatty acids, phosphosphingolipids and amino acids were the most prevalent predictive chemical subclasses.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Significant heterogeneity of participant characteristics and methods employed among studies precluded a meta-analysis. Compounds related to lipid metabolism should be validated up to the second trimester in different settings.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018089985.

The role of vitamin D in perinatology. An up-to-date review

The role of vitamin D in perinatology is a subject of major interest in current medicine. There is growing evidence about the role of maternal vitamin D levels in pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this review is to summarize the current literature about the role of vitamin D in perinatology. Evidence from this review suggests associations between low levels of maternal vitamin D and higher risk of certain obstetrical complications. Vitamin D has been found to be related to preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, low birth weight, and preterm birth. The current literature supports vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women, but more high-quality data are necessary. The problem that remains is how to achieve an optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. To determine the real benefits of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy, we need high-quality trials in larger groups.