Association of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and risk of preterm labor

Abstract

Introduction: Prematurity represents around 50-75% of the perinatal mortality causes. It is considered a challenging clinical scenario faced in every day practice. Preterm labor is clinically definedas the beginning of regular uterine contractions accompanying cervical changes before 37 gestational week’s completion with or without intact fetal membranes.Aim of the work: To assess the association between vitamin D status and preterm labor.Patients and Methods: 80 pregnant study subjects with singleton pregnancy between 20-28 gestational weeks were followed up for any sign or symptom of preterm labor. Study subjects that completed 37 gestational weeks were considered controls, others delivered before 37 gestational weeks were considered cases. A blood sample was collected from cases and controls and was frozen till reaching our target of PTBs then serum 25(OH) VD was assayed by ELISA.Results: Vitamin D levels were less in the preterm research group in statistically significant fashion (p value =0.000). GA age at delivery was statistically significantly correlated to vitamin D levels in which Pearson correlation = 0.571 (p value =0.000). Vitamin D deficiency was statistically significantly more prevalent in preterm research group ; while vitamin D sufficiency and insufficiency were more prevalent in full term research group in statistically significant manner (p value =0.000).Conclusion: A significant association between vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and occurrence of preterm labor. Future research studies should in addition consider racial, ethnic differences between study subjects recruited in a comparative manner and seasonal variabilities that could affect vitamin D status.