Abstract
Background/ObjectivesVitamin D deficiency is common among pregnant women and since the fetus relies exclusively on maternal supply, deficiency could potentially interfere with fetal development. Vitamin D blood concentrations during pregnancy have been associated with offspring cardio-metabolic health in a few previous studies but the evidence is still inconsistent and only one previous study has followed the offspring into adulthood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal serum concentration of vitamin D (25(OH)D) in week 30 of gestation and offspring cardio-metabolic risk factors at 20 years.Subjects/MethodsA follow up study of a Danish birth cohort from 1988–89 (n = 965) was conducted. A blood sample was drawn from the women in week 30 of gestation. In 2008–2009, 95% of the original mother and child dyads could be identified in the central registration registry and were alive and living in Denmark. The offspring were followed up with self-reported anthropometrics (N = 629, 69%) and a clinical examination (N = 410, 45%). Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring cardio-metabolic risk factors adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsNo overall association was observed between maternal 25(OH)D in week 30 of gestation and offspring cardio-metabolic risk factors. However, the analyses did suggest a possible inverse association with blood pressure in females.ConclusionsNo clear association between maternal 25(OH)D concentration in week 30 of gestation and cardio-metabolic risk factors in the 20 year old offspring was found.
Highlights
Sub-optimal vitamin D status is common among pregnant women [1,2,3,4] and since the fetus relies exclusively on maternal supply of vitamin D across the placenta [5], maternal vitamin D deficiency could potentially interfere with fetal development.Vitamin D is a steroid hormone which regulate a large number of genes through the binding to vitamin D receptors (VDR) [6]
No overall association was observed between maternal 25(OH)D in week 30 of gestation and offspring cardio-metabolic risk factors
The widespread distribution of VDRs and multiple actions of vitamin D makes it plausible that vitamin D insufficiency during fetal life could lead to perturbations in physiological processes and organ development which may lead to future disease
Summary
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone which regulate a large number of genes through the binding to vitamin D receptors (VDR) [6]. These receptors are present in most human tissues and have been shown to be involved in a number of physiological processes [6]. The association between vitamin D status in early life and later cardio-metabolic risk factors in the offspring has only been investigated in few studies and findings are still inconclusive. Most studies only follow-up individuals into early childhood and only one study has previously followed the participants into adulthood [21]
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