Endocrine Abstracts

Low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the major circulating storage form, are common in the general population. Over recent decades, there has been increasing evidence for a role of vitamin D in disease pathogenesis far beyond the musculoskeletal system. Thus, many studies have investigated whether low levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D have a detrimental effect on pregnancy outcomes, for both mother and offspring, and whether supplementation with vitamin D might ameliorate such effects. We comprehensively surveyed this literature in a recent systematic review, funded by NIHR HTA. Suggestive positive associations were observed between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration/vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy, and offspring birthweight, serum calcium concentrations and bone mass, with some evidence for a protective effect of maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations on pre-eclampsia. Overall, though, there was insufficient evidence to recommend vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy for any single health outcome. Such findings reinforce the need for high quality randomised control trials, such as the UK MAVIDOS Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis study, a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of 1000 IU/day vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol) vs placebo from 14 weeks gestation till delivery of the offspring, in which the primary outcome is offspring DXA-measured bone mass, with pregnancy outcomes assessed as secondary endpoints. This study tests, in an interventional setting, earlier observations linking low maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration to reduced offspring bone mass, and gain valuable information regarding the role of vitamin D in pregnancy for other health outcomes. Such a rigorous interventional approach is essential to enable research questions to be adequately answered, such that alterations to public health policy maybe confidently based on robust evidence.