title: Association of antepartum vitamin D levels with postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength and symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D affects skeletal muscle strength and functions via various mechanisms. Strength and/or functional dysfunctions of the pelvic floor muscles may be associated with the distortion of pelvic floor functions. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) by affecting pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy on postpartum PFMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital. One hundred and eighty pregnant women were admitted to our hospital in their third trimester and compared with 156 healthy nulliparous women. Venous blood samples for examining vitamin D levels were taken from each participant and stored at -80 °C. At 8-10 weeks postpartum, patients were invited to the hospital, asked about their PFD symptoms, and PFMS was measured using a perineometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical significance among groups regarding mean age, maternal age, and weight at delivery. Postpartum PFMS and duration in vitamin D-deficient women were significantly lower than those without the deficiency. Vitamin D-deficient vaginal delivery cases (group I) had a postpartum PFMS average of 21.96 ± 7.91 cm-H₂O, nonvitamin D-deficient normal delivery cases (group III) had a PFMS of 29.66 ± 10.3 cm-H₂O (p = 0.001). In the cesarean delivery groups, vitamin D-deficient (group II) and nonvitamin D-deficient (group IV) cases had PFMS values of 32.23 ± 9.66 and 35.53 ± 15.58 cm-H₂O respectively (p = 0.258).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower vitamin D levels in the third trimester correlates with decreased PFMS.
authors: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, İzmir Katip Çelebi University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey, serpilaydogmus@gmail.com.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Aydogmus
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kelekci
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Aydogmus
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Demir
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Yilmaz
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sutcu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology; D008365:Manometry; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D011788:Quality of Life; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol