Korean J Perinatol.  2011 Jun;22(2):88-94.

Vitamin D: A View of Perinatal Medicine

• Lee JH

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency has been common health problem in many countries and it is now known that vitamin D plays a role in many organs and tissues throughout the body as well as bone and calcium metabolism. It is also reported that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and neonates is prevalent in various populations. Low maternal levels of vitamin D correlate with poor pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes, preterm delivery and increase in caesarian section. In neonate and infants, vitamin D deficiency may result in lower birth weight, small for gestational infants, neonatal seizure and cardiomyopathy. In this article, author reviews multiple roles of vitamin D, adverse effect of vitamin D deficiency on pregnancy and neonatal health and recommendations of vitamin D intake.

Keyword

Vitamin D; Pregnancy; Infant; Newborn

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Calcium
Cardiomyopathies
Diabetes, Gestational
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnant Women
Seizures
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamins
Calcium
Vitamin D
Vitamins