Pre-Conception Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Risk of Pregnancy Hypertension, claims research
Pre-conception vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancies in women who conceive via fresh embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization (IVF), as reported by a recent study published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. The study was conducted by Aaron Chen and colleagues in China.
A total of 306 women who received IVF with fresh autologous embryo transfer participated in the retrospective cohort study, and the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including hypertensive disorders, was compared according to vitamin D status. This study utilized archived serum samples to measure pre-conception 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in women undergoing IVF with fresh autologous embryo transfer. The women were categorized into two groups according to their vitamin D status as follows:
Vitamin D deficient: <20 ng/ml
Non-deficient: ≥20 ng/ml
Pregnancy outcomes that were adverse included hypertensive disorders like gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia as well as other complications. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were determined to assess the relationship between vitamin D status and pregnancy outcomes.
The results of the study were as follows:
Of 306 women, 16 developed hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia (5.3%).
Women with adequate preconception vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/ml) had significantly reduced risks for hypertensive disorders than those with inadequate levels (<20 ng/ml).
Adjusted odds ratio for hypertensive disorders using deficiency as a reference: 0.190 (95% CI: 0.042–0.852; p = 0.030).
Other complications during pregnancy were not significantly associated with preconception vitamin D status.
5.3% (16/306) of women developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Women with non-deficient vitamin D levels had an 81% reduced risk of hypertensive disorders (OR: 0.190).
No significant differences in other pregnancy complications were noted based on vitamin D levels.
Pre-conception vitamin D deficiency was associated with a significantly increased risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy in women undergoing IVF with fresh embryo transfer. Vitamin D deficiency before conception could be addressed and improve maternal health outcomes, emphasizing the need for complete pre-conception care.
Reference:
Chan AHY, Ko JKY, Li RHW, Chan TO, Ng EHY. Effect of pre-conception serum vitamin D level on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization with fresh embryo transfer: a retrospective analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2025 Jan 9;23(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s12958-025-01343-w. PMID: 39789576; PMCID: PMC11716185.
