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Association between Maternal Vitamin D Levels and Risk of Preeclampsia: A Prospective Cohort Study

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Vitamin D has immunomodulatory, vascular and placental effects that could affect the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, but prospective evidence is inconsistent. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in the first trimester and the risk of preeclampsia. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 438 women with singleton pregnancies who were enrolled at 11-14 weeks of gestation and followed to delivery (420 women completed follow-up). The serum 25(OH)D level was assessed at recruitment and classified as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20-29.9 ng/mL), or sufficient (>=30 ng/mL). Preeclampsia was diagnosed according to standard criteria and monitored in participants. After adjustment for maternal age, BMI, parity, family history of hypertensive disorders, season of sampling and vitamin D supplement use by multivariable logistic regression. Results: 40/420 women (9.5%) developed preeclampsia. The mean baseline 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in women who developed preeclampsia than in normotensive women (17.9 +/- 7.4 ng/mL vs 25.5 +/- 9.8 ng/mL; P < 0.001). The prevalence of Preeclampsia was 14.7% in the vitamin D deficient women, 7.0% in the insufficient women and 4.6% in the sufficient women (P for trend = 0.006). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with a 3.08-fold increase in the odds of preeclampsia after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio 3.08; 95% confidence interval 1.12-8.48; P = 0.029). For every 5 ng/mL increase in 25(OH)D, adjusted odds were 20% lower (adjusted odds ratio 0.80; 95% confidence interval 0.69-0.92; P = 0.002). Conclusion: A lower 25(OH) D level in early pregnancy was independently associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia later in pregnancy. Vitamin D status could be used for risk stratification, but trials of intervention are required before a preventive effect of supplementation could be inferred.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220158974
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