Is Midtrimester Vitamin D Status Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Birth and Preeclampsia?

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate whether midtrimester maternal vitamin D is associated with preeclampsia < 37 weeks or spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) < 35 weeks.

Study Design Nested case–control comprising two case subsets: (1) 100 women with preeclampsia < 37 weeks and (2) 100 women with SPB < 35 weeks. Controls consisted of 200 women delivered between 39 and 40 weeks. Stored maternal serum obtained between 15 and 21 weeks was tested for total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH D) levels using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean 25-OH D levels and prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25-OH D < 30 ng/mL) and deficiency (25-OH D < 15 ng/mL) were compared.

Results In this study, 89 preeclampsia, 90 SPTB cases, and 177 controls had valid measurements. Mean midtrimester vitamin D was not significantly different between women with preeclampsia (27.4 ng/mL ± 14.4) and controls (28.6 ± 12.6) (p = 0.46), or SPTB (28.8 ± 13.2) and controls (p = 0.92). After adjusting for potential cofounders, neither vitamin D insufficiency (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6–2.0) nor deficiency (adjusted OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.7–3.0) was significantly associated with preeclampsia. Likewise, SPTB was not significantly associated with either vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (adjusted OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4–1.4, adjusted OR, 1.3 or 95% CI, 0.6–3.0, respectively).

Conclusion Midtrimester maternal vitamin D was not significantly associated with preeclampsia < 37 weeks or SPTB < 35 weeks.

Keywords

adverse - 25-hydroxy vitamin D - preeclampsia - preterm birth

Note

This study was presented in part as a poster at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 32nd Annual Meeting, February 6–12, 2012, Dallas, Texas.

Funding

Funded in part by a UAB Faculty Development Grant award to Dr. Tita. Funds for the operation of the Targeted Metabolomics and Proteomics Laboratory come in part from the UAB O'Brien Acute Kidney Injury Center (P30 DK079337), the UAB Skin Disease Research Center (P30 AR50948), the UAB Lung Health Center, and the UAB Center for Free Radical Biology.

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