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Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Disorders

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition in Women".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 14945

Special Issue Editor

Center for Perinatal Biology & Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
Interests: animal models of pregnancy disorders; vitamin D metabolism alterations during pregnancy; placental insufficiency; trophoblast remodeling of spiral arteries; maternal renal, vascular, and immune adaptations; preeclampsia; recurrent miscarriage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with multiple pregnancy disorders, including preterm delivery, placental insufficiency, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and recurrent miscarriage. Although vitamin D is thought to act via non-classical pathways to improve the maternal–fetal immune adaptations and the uteroplacental blood perfusion, the mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. This Special Issue will highlight research on the role/association of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy disorders, with emphasis on the maternal/fetal metabolism of vitamin D and pathways that lead to vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Original research or secondary analysis of the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy are also welcome.

Prof. Eugenia Mata-Greenwood
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • vitamin D
  • pregnancy
  • placenta
  • mother
  • neonate
  • mechanism

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1281 KiB  
Article
Cord Serum Calcitriol Inversely Correlates with Maternal Blood Pressure in Urinary Tract Infection-Affected Pregnancies: Sex-Dependent Immune Implications
by Andrea Olmos-Ortiz, Alberto Olivares-Huerta, Janice García-Quiroz, Euclides Avila, Ali Halhali, Braulio Quesada-Reyna, Fernando Larrea, Verónica Zaga-Clavellina and Lorenza Díaz
Nutrients 2021, 13(9), 3114; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13093114 - 04 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2460
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTI) during pregnancy are frequently associated with hypertensive disorders, increasing the risk of perinatal morbidity. Calcitriol, vitamin D3’s most active metabolite, has been involved in blood pressure regulation and prevention of UTIs, partially through modulating vasoactive peptides and [...] Read more.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) during pregnancy are frequently associated with hypertensive disorders, increasing the risk of perinatal morbidity. Calcitriol, vitamin D3’s most active metabolite, has been involved in blood pressure regulation and prevention of UTIs, partially through modulating vasoactive peptides and antimicrobial peptides, like cathelicidin. However, nothing is known regarding the interplay between placental calcitriol, cathelicidin, and maternal blood pressure in UTI-complicated pregnancies. Here, we analyzed the correlation between these parameters in pregnant women with UTI and with normal pregnancy (NP). Umbilical venous serum calcitriol and its precursor calcidiol were significantly elevated in UTI. Regardless of newborn’s sex, we found strong negative correlations between calcitriol and maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the UTI cohort (p < 0.002). In NP, this relationship was observed only in female-carrying mothers. UTI-female placentas showed higher expression of cathelicidin and CYP27B1, the calcitriol activating-enzyme, compared to male and NP samples. Accordingly, cord-serum calcitriol from UTI-female neonates negatively correlated with maternal bacteriuria. Cathelicidin gene expression positively correlated with gestational age in UTI and with newborn anthropometric parameters. Our results suggest that vitamin D deficiency might predispose to maternal cardiovascular risk and perinatal infections especially in male-carrying pregnancies, probably due to lower placental CYP27B1 and cathelicidin expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Disorders)
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10 pages, 554 KiB  
Article
Plasma 25(OH)D Concentrations and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Pregnant Women in Taiwan
by Thu T. M. Pham, Ya-Li Huang, Jane C.-J. Chao, Jung-Su Chang, Yi-Chun Chen, Fan-Fen Wang and Chyi-Huey Bai
Nutrients 2021, 13(8), 2538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13082538 - 25 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3159
Abstract
Vitamin D’s function in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is not consistent in the literature. We examined the association between maternal plasma 25(OH)D concentration and GDM risk. A national cross-sectional study (1497 pregnant women) was conducted between 2017 and 2019 across [...] Read more.
Vitamin D’s function in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is not consistent in the literature. We examined the association between maternal plasma 25(OH)D concentration and GDM risk. A national cross-sectional study (1497 pregnant women) was conducted between 2017 and 2019 across Taiwan. Blood samples were drawn at recruitment to assess 25(OH)D concentrations, including vitamin D deficiency (VDD) (<20 ng/mL), insufficiency (<32 ng/mL), and sufficiency (≥32 ng/mL). GDM was detected from 24 to 28 weeks of gestation with the results extracted from the antenatal visit records. The prevalence of GDM was 2.9%. Logistic model analysis showed that 25(OH)D concentrations were not significantly associated with the risk of GDM (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.97, p = 0.144). However, subjects with VDD had a significantly greater risk of GDM (AOR = 2.26, p = 0.041), but not in those with vitamin D insufficiency (AOR = 1.20, p = 0.655). Furthermore, cubic piecewise spline regression was used to explore the relationship between five-unit intervals of 25(OH)D and the predicted probability of GDM. As the proportion of GDM increased for low 25(OH)D concentrations, it decreased at moderate concentrations and increased again at higher concentrations. These findings revealed a nonlinear relationship between 25(OH)D and GDM risk. VDD would be risky for GDM occurrence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Disorders)
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11 pages, 420 KiB  
Article
Diet Quality Indices and Physical Activity Levels Associated with Adequacy of Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
by Vanessa Averof Honorato de Almeida, Rafaela Alkmin da Costa, Cristiane de Freitas Paganoti, Fernanda Cristina Mikami, Ana Maria da Silva Sousa, Stela Verzinhasse Peres, Marco Antonio Borges Lopes and Rossana Pulcineli Vieira Francisco
Nutrients 2021, 13(6), 1842; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13061842 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3511
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the Diet Quality Index (DQI) and the Physical Activity (PA) levels associated with adequacy of gestational weight gain in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 172 pregnant women with a single [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the Diet Quality Index (DQI) and the Physical Activity (PA) levels associated with adequacy of gestational weight gain in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 172 pregnant women with a single fetus and a diagnosis of GDM participated. Food intake was self-reported on the food frequency questionnaire and DQI was quantified using the index validated and revised for Brazil (DQI-R). To assess PA, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered. Gestational weight gain was classified, following the criteria of the Institute of Medicine, into adequate (AWG), insufficient (IWG), or excessive (EWG) weight gain. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed, with level of significance <0.05. The participants were divided into 3 groups: AWG (33.1%), IWG (27.3%), and EWG (39.5%). The analysis indicated that if the pregnant women PA fell into tertile 1 or 2, then they had a greater chance of having IWG, whereas those with the lowest scores on the DQI-R, whose PA fell into tertile 2, and pregestational obesity women had the greatest chance of having EWG. This study has shown that low PA levels may contribute towards IWG. On the other hand, a low final DQI-R score, representing inadequate food habits, low PA levels, and pregestational obesity may increase the chance of EWG in patients with GDM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Disorders)
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Review

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32 pages, 6213 KiB  
Review
Could Vitamin D Be Effective in Prevention of Preeclampsia?
by Elżbieta Poniedziałek-Czajkowska and Radzisław Mierzyński
Nutrients 2021, 13(11), 3854; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13113854 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4676
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Disorders)
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