Nutr Res Pract.  2022 Feb;16(1):120-131. 10.4162/nrp.2022.16.1.120.

High early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, within a sub-optimal range, is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study

• Yong HY
• Shariff ZM
• Palaniveloo L
• Loh SP
• Yusof BNM
• Rejali Z
• Bindels J
• Tee YYS
• Beek EMvd

• KMID: 2525507
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2022.16.1.120

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Low early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels can increase gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, although inconsistent findings related to that association have been reported. This study examined the association of serum vitamin D with GDM and the possible influencers on this association.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
This study included 259 pregnant women within the Seremban Cohort Study (SECOST). Blood samples at < 14 weeks of gestation were drawn to determine serum 25(OH)D levels. GDM diagnosis was made at 24 to 32 weeks of gestation using a standard procedure. Association between serum vitamin D and GDM was tested using binary logistic regression.
RESULTS
Nearly all women (90%) had mild (68.3%) or severe (32.2%) vitamin D deficiency (VDD). Non-GDM women with mild VDD had a significantly higher mean vitamin D intake than GDM women with mild VDD (t = 2.04, p < 0.05). Women with higher early pregnancy serum vitamin D levels had a greater risk of GDM. However, this significant association was only identified among those with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in women with a body mass index indicating overweight or obese status.
CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of VDD in this sample of pregnant women underscores the need for effective preventive public health strategies. Further investigation of this unexpected association between serum vitamin D level and GDM risk in predominantly VDD pregnant women and the potential effects of adiposity and family history of T2DM on that association is warranted.

Keyword

Vitamin D; gestational diabetes mellitus; vitamin D deficiency; body mass index

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Overview of the participant selection process.

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