The association of Vitamin D levels with lipid metabolism during pregnancy

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women, and it is associated with multiple gestational complications, fetal intrauterine dysplasia, and maternal and infant health in postpartum period. Vitamin D involved in lipid metabolism may affect maternal-fetal health during pregnancy through this biological pathway. This review provides an overview of three main aspects, including, the effect of vitamin D on the mechanism of lipid metabolism, the relationship between vitamin D and lipid metabolites in pregnant women and women with pregnancy complications. An association between vitamin D status and lipid metabolism at different stages of pregnancy has been justified in most current studies, and the underlying mechanism has also been partly elucidated. Given some gestational complications, such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, pregnant women with these conditions are often associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and vitamin D deficiency. There is no doubt that the studies on the vitamin D supplementation and lipid metabolism improvement could have crucial clinical significance for this population. More randomized controlled trials with multi-center, large sample and multi-dose interventions are needed in the future to provide scientific evidence for clinical practice.