Presented at International Symposium on Vitamin D Deficiency - Abu Dhabi March 2012
Prof. Bruce Hollis
Qualifications: Ph.D.
Position: Director of Pediatric Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, USA
Vitamin D Supplementation during Pregnancy and Its Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes
The function and requirement of vitamin D during pregnancy for both mother and fetus has remained a mystery.
This fact was highlighted by The Cochrane Review in 1999 that reported a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with respect to vitamin D requirements during pregnancy.
Unfortunately, during the past decade only a single RCT has been performed with respect to vitamin D requirements during pregnancy.
In this review we will discuss vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy as well as the consequences of vitamin D deficiency on skeletal, non-skeletal and birth outcomes using birth observational data and data from our recent RCT.
New RCT data strongly support previous observational studies in that improving nutritional vitamin D status will improve birth outcomes.
The new RCT data indicates that 4,000 IU/d vitamin D3 during pregnancy will "normalize" vitamin D Metabolism and improve birth outcomes including primary cesarean section and co-morbidities of pregnancy with no Risk of side effects.
PDF Audio
Sample slides
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See also Vitamin D Life
- International Symposium on Vitamin D Deficiency - Abu Dhabi March 2012
- Dark skin births are much riskier due to lack of vitamin D big concern for the Middle East
- CDC vitamin D statistics for women: including blacks and high BMI – March 2012 which has the following chart
- Overview Vitamin D: Before, During, and After Pregnancy many items by Dr. Hollis
Summary of Overview as of March 2012
| Dose IU | Cumulative Benefit | Blood level and notes | Co-factors (see list) | Calcium | $*/year |
| 400 | + less infant rickets + 3X less adolescent Schizophrenia + fewer child seizures | <30 ng/ml | Not needed | No effect | $3 |
| 2000 | + More likely to get pregnant naturally or via IVF + fewer dental problems with pregnancy + 8X less diabetes + 4X fewer C-sections (>37 ng) + 4X less preeclampsia (40 ng vs 10 ng) + 5X less child asthma + 2X less language problems age 10 | 42 ng/ml | Desirable | < 750 mg | $12 |
| 4000 | + 2X fewer pregnancy complications + 2X fewer per-term births | 49 ng/ml Test Vitamin D | Must have | < 750 mg | $175 |
| 6000 | + probable larger benefits for items listed above + Enough D for breastfed infant + Perhaps prevent 2nd autistic child | Test Vitamin D clinical trials underway | Must have | < 750 mg | $200 |