Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy

Unless you have been living under rock, you know that health disparities exist.  Tons of research is being done in this area including research around socioeconomic factors, genetics, and nutritional deficiencies.  When I think about all the advances in maternal and child health I can't help but remember when the discovery of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy was determined an effective way to prevent neural tube defects (NTD's). NTD's are birth defects of the brain and spinal chord. Folic acid works to prevent these birth defects only if taken before conception and during early pregnancy. Folate is a B Vitamin and is the natural form of folic acid that is found in certain foods. Since January 1, 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required the addition of 140 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of grain to cereals, breads, pastas and other foods labeled “enriched.” This fortification makes it 
easier for women to get folic acid from food they eat.

There has also been research on the adverse effects of Vitamin D deficiency for infants born to mothers who are deficient. These poor outcomes include increased rates of preterm birth, infection, c-section delivery, bacterial vaginitis, preeclampsia, and less efficient glucose metabolism. Currently, Vitamin D deficiency screening is not a standard of care for prenatal patients however emerging research is showing a possible link to disparate birth outcomes among African American women to Vitamin D deficiency. African American women are more likely to have insufficient levels of Vitamin D due to decreased skin absorption of the vitamin from the sun.  Differences in Vitamin D levels could help explain racial disparities in preterm birth rates and lead to treatments to reduce them.  This is really fascinating as it has the potential to be a low risk intervention that could improve the health of thousands of babies and reduce costs of a premature baby having to receive treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).