Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and child outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether exposure to high maternal concentrations of 25(OH)-vitamin D in pregnancy poses any risk to the child.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Princess Anne Maternity Hospital, Southampton, UK.


METHODS
A group of 596 pregnant women were recruited. A total of 466 (78%) children were examined at birth, 440 (74%) at age 9 months and 178 (30%) at age 9 years.


METHODS
Maternal 25 (OH)-vitamin D concentrations were measured in late pregnancy. Anthropometry of the child was recorded at birth, 9 months and 9 years. At 9 months, atopic eczema was assessed. At 9 years, children had an echocardiogram and a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan, blood pressure, arterial compliance and carotid intima-media thickness were measured and intelligence and psychological function assessed.


RESULTS
There were no associations between maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D concentrations and the child's body size or measures of the child's intelligence, psychological health or cardiovascular system. Children whose mothers had a 25(OH)-vitamin D concentration in pregnancy >75 nmol/l had an increased risk of eczema on examination at 9 months (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.15-9.29, P=0.025) and asthma at age 9 years (OR 5.40, 95% CI, 1.09-26.65, P=0.038) compared to children whose mothers had a concentration of <30 nmol/l.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to maternal concentrations of 25(OH)-vitamin D in pregnancy in excess of 75 nmol/l does not appear to influence the child's intelligence, psychological health or cardiovascular system; there could be an increased risk of atopic disorders, but this needs confirmation in other studies.
Gale
C R
CR
MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK. drg@mrc.soton.ac.uk
Robinson
S M
SM
Harvey
N C
NC
Javaid
M K
MK
Jiang
B
B
Martyn
C N
CN
Godfrey
K M
KM
Cooper
C
C
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D