Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: state of the evidence from a systematic review of randomised trials

Study answer

What this study found

Prenatal vitamin D supplementation increased maternal and cord 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and showed some favorable neonatal effects, including higher birth weight and lower risk of small-for-gestational-age birth. Pooled estimates showed serum 25(OH)D at/near delivery increased by 32.91 nmol/L and cord 25(OH)D increased by 27.73 nmol/L, while birth weight increased by 58.33 g. There was no clear benefit for gestational age at birth (-0.01 weeks), birth length, head circumference, or neonatal bone outcomes overall. Evidence for prevention of other maternal pregnancy outcomes and…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in pregnant women receiving vitamin D supplementation across multiple countries and settings.

Intervention

Vitamin D was given during pregnancy as either D2 or D3, by oral or intramuscular route, in regular or bolus regimens.

Key limitation

Most included trials were small and of low quality, limiting confidence in the pooled findings.

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Original abstract