Impact of vitamin D on maternal and fetal health: A review

Abstract

The role of vitamin D in improving maternal health and reducing the risk of developmental disorders in fetus has been an important domain of research since the past few years. Vitamin D, owing to its immunomodulatory, anti‐inflammatory, developmental roles, and regulating calcium homeostasis, is predicted to have a significant influence on maternal and fetal health status. Several observational studies and clinical trials, determining the impact of vitamin D on gestational diabetes, C‐section, postpartum depression, pre‐eclampsia, miscarriages, and preterm delivery, have been elaborated in this review. In addition, fetal birth defects including neurological development, reduced birth weight, respiratory infections, bone development, and altered anthropometrics have also been summarized with available evidences. Other important mechanisms related to the roles of vitamin D in the body are also explained. Furthermore, recent studies determining the effect of vitamin D at genetic level will also help in understanding and future design of research in the area of maternal and fetal health.

Creating an Ignorance-Base: Exploring Known Unknowns in the Scientific Literature

“…The connection between vitamin D and brain development has only recently been studied extensively. Looking for recent papers on “vitamin D”, “brain development”, and “spontaneous preterm birth” in the literature (Google Scholar search on 9/13/2022), many review articles appeared (112, 113, 114, 115, 116]) that discuss the impact of vitamin D on maternal and fetal health (see Figure 3 in [112] and our adapted Figure 1). All of these studies agree that there is a link between vitamin D, the immune system, and sPTB, and acknowledge at least one link between vitamin D and brain development.…”

“…All of these studies agree that there is a link between vitamin D, the immune system, and sPTB, and acknowledge at least one link between vitamin D and brain development. A 2022 review article stated that “recently, extensive scientific literature has been published determining the role of vitamin D in brain development” [112]. Note that these articles contain mentions of controversies and other types of ignorance statements, which also point to other areas of investigation.…”

“…Fetal development is a critical period and exposure to nutrition has a lifelong impact [111]. For example, the micronutrient vitamin D is very important for maternal and fetal health, affecting the immune and musculoskeletal systems, neurodevelopment, and hormones [112, 113, 114, 115, 116] (see Figure 1). Abnormal vitamin D levels can lead to gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, frequent miscarriages, adipogenesis, pre-eclampsia, obstructed labor, Cesarean sections, reduced weight at birth, respiratory issues, postpartum depression, and autism [112].…”

“…For example, the micronutrient vitamin D is very important for maternal and fetal health, affecting the immune and musculoskeletal systems, neurodevelopment, and hormones [112, 113, 114, 115, 116] (see Figure 1). Abnormal vitamin D levels can lead to gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, frequent miscarriages, adipogenesis, pre-eclampsia, obstructed labor, Cesarean sections, reduced weight at birth, respiratory issues, postpartum depression, and autism [112]. If we can identify the known unknowns in prenatal nutrition, even just with regard to the role of vitamin D, then we can look to other fields to help us answer the questions raised, and thereby avoid the additional risks faced when studying pregnant women and their children.…”

“…Relationship between society, maternal nutrition (vitamin D), and the effects on mother and offspring: a sankey diagram created based on Figure 3 from [112]. The orange color represents the findings from the exploration methods that the concepts related to brain development and immune system are enriched in ignorance statements and possible novel avenues to explore.…”