Low Vitamin D in First Trimester Tied to Worse Outcomes
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 -- Low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length, according to a study published online in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Celeste Beck, Ph.D., M.P.H., from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, and colleagues examined whether first- and second-trimester maternal vitamin D status was associated with fetal growth patterns and pregnancy outcomes. The analysis included 351 participants with vitamin D measurements taken at six to 13 and 16 to 21 weeks of gestation.
The researchers found that vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <50 nmol/L) was prevalent in 20 percent of participants in the first trimester. In the first trimester, each 10 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D was associated with a 0.05 increase in length-for-age z-score but was not associated with weight or head circumference. Using the cutoff of <50 nmol/L, there were no differences in the risk for preterm birth or small for gestational age. However, among participants with first-trimester 25(OH)D <40 nmol/L compared with ≥80 nmol/L, the risk for preterm birth was 4.35 times higher. There was no association for second-trimester 25(OH)D and fetal growth patterns or with pregnancy outcomes.
"This research indicates that vitamin D levels -- along with iron, folate, and other essential nutrients in pregnancy -- should be monitored and understood by obstetricians and women early on to promote healthy birth outcomes," Beck said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2025
Read this next
Metabolic Dysfunction-Linked Steatotic Liver Disease Tied to Increased Preterm Birth Risk
TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in pregnant women is a risk factor for preterm birth, according to a study published...
AAP Updates Guidance on Evaluation, Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preemies
THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 -- In a clinical report published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics presents updated guidance on the evaluation and...
No Link Found Between COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy and Spontaneous Abortion
THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 -- There is no association between COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and spontaneous abortion, according to a study published online May 2...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.