Maternal Vitamin D Status and Risk of Preeclampsia in Abuja, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the relationship between maternal serum 25(OH) D concentrations and development of preeclampsia.Study Design:A cross sectional comparative study.Place and Duration of StudyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, between March 2016 and February 2017.Methodology: We included 55 women with preeclampsiaand 55 healthywomen. Data obtained includedsociodemographic characteristics, clothing style and duration of exposure to sun light. ELISA method was used for evaluation of serum vitamin D levels.Original Research Article Results:The prevalence of VD deficiency in the population was 15%, while 16.8% and 73% of the participants had insufficient and normal levels respectively. The prevalence of VD deficiency in women withpreeclampsia was 20.4% while that in healthy pregnant women was 9.4% (P=.19). The mean serum 25-OH-D level of women with pre-eclampsia was significantly lower than that of healthy women (34.5±14.9 vs. 43.5±15.1, P = .003). Preeclamptic women with vitamin D insufficiency delivered at a higher gestational age than those with vitamin D deficiency (37.67(2.77) weeks vs. 33.55(2.38) weeks respectively, P=.007). In the adjusted analysis of cases with vitamin D defficiency, the odds of developing preeclampsia was not statistically significant [odds ratio (OR) = 3.27, CI = 0.99-10.83,P=.05]. However, the odds of developing preeclampsia in women with Vitamin D insufficiency wasstatistically significant (OR = 3.20, CI = 1.02–10.06, = 0.046).Conclusion: In conclusion, an association between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia was not demonstrated in this study. The results however suggest that maternal vitamin D insufficiency in late pregnancy is an independent risk factor for preeclampsia.