Sex-Specific Variations in Vitamin D and Vitamin D Binding Protein (Vdbp) and Flipped Pattern of their Association in Preeclamptic Women with Dyslipidemia.

Abstract

Women with preeclampsia frequently have disorders of calcium metabolism during their pregnancies, including hypocalciuria and low vitamin D levels. The link between fetal sex and vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein levels in pregnancy and preeclampsia is not clear. Present study was designed to explore sex-specific variations in vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood samples for age and gestation matched 20 primigravida normotensive and 20 primigravida with preeclampsia with a singleton pregnancy. Routine investigations, vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), and serum vitamin D in both maternal serum and cord blood were measured in both groups. Association between maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels was highly positive in both cases and control with babies of either sex. This association exhibited sexual dimorphism between cord blood vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) suggesting that the occurrence of pregnancy complications differs according to fetal sex with a higher cardiovascular and metabolic load for the mother in the presence of a male fetus. Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) measurement along with vitamin D level should be advised in clinical practice for early detection and screening.