Research paper
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: Double‐blind, randomized clinical trial of safety and effectiveness
Study answer
What this study found
Vitamin D3 supplementation was effective, and 4000 IU/day was the most effective dose for achieving maternal and neonatal vitamin D sufficiency without identified safety concerns. Mean circulating 25(OH)D was highest in the 4000 IU group at second trimester (98.6 nmol/L) and one month prior to delivery (114.2 nmol/L), both with p < 0.0001 versus lower-dose groups. Neonatal 25(OH)D also increased with dose: 45.5 nmol/L, 57.0 nmol/L, and 66.3 nmol/L, with sufficiency by IOM criteria in 39.7%, 58.2%, and 78.6% of infants for the 400 IU, 2000 IU, and 4000 IU groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). No…
- Study & population
- Double-blind randomized clinical trial in pregnant women with singleton pregnancies enrolled at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, at 12 to 16 weeks' gestation.
- Intervention
- Pregnant participants received a daily prenatal multivitamin containing 400 IU vitamin D plus an additional vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplement of 0 IU, 1600 IU, or 3600 IU, for total vitamin D intakes of 400 IU/day, 2000 IU/day, or 4000 IU/day.
- Key limitation
- The trial was conducted at a single center in Charleston, South Carolina, in women with singleton pregnancies, which limits generalizability.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
The need, safety, and effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy remain controversial. In this randomized, controlled trial, women with a singleton pregnancy at 12 to 16 weeks' gestation received 400, 2000, or 4000 IU of vitamin D3 p…