title: Effects of maternal vitamin D status on pregnancy outcomes, health of pregnant women and their offspring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregnancy increases the demand for vitamins, including vitamin D. Data on effects of vitamin D deficiency for pregnant woman and fetus available in Poland are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D3 concentration in pregnant women and its influence on pregnancy course, health of pregnant women and their offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 102 healthy pregnant women, aged 21 to 40 years, mean 30.5±4.9 years. Women were divided into three groups based on 25(OH)D serum concentration in the third trimester of pregnancy: Group I - with sufficient 25(OH)D serum concentration (>30 ng/ml), Group II - with vitamin D3 insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml), Group III - with serious vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Optimal vitamin D concentrations were found only in 31.2% of women, however in winter months only in 16%. Bacterial vaginosis was significantly more common in women with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency (p<0.05). In contrast, there were no relations between vitamin D status and the incidence of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, mode of delivery and size of newborns. A relationship between vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency during pregnancy and subsequent incidence of respiratory infections in children (p<0.05) was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. The current model of vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women in Poland is insufficient, particularly in winter. 2. Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women fosters development of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy and recurrent respiratory infections in children, suggestive of the role of vitamin D in prevention of infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skowrońska-Jóźwiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lebiedzińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smyczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lewandowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Głowacka
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D