Pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency may be significantly more likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to those with normal vitamin D levels, according to a recent study.
The retrospective study, published in Cureus, analyzed data from 106 pregnant women aged 16 to 45 years at a third-level maternity hospital to investigate the association between the two conditions. Exclusion criteria included pre-existing chronic diseases, inconsistent medical records, geographical disparities in vitamin D intake, and medical drug use affecting vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D serum levels were measured in the first trimester using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method, with deficiency defined as levels below 20 ng/mL, insufficiency as levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL, and optimal levels as above 30 ng/mL.
The average body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 29.8 ± 5.1 kg/m². Among the participants, 52 (49.1%) were classified as obese, and 86 (81.1%) were either overweight or obese.
The mean vitamin D level among participants was 19.5 ± 7.8 ng/mL. Among the 106 women, 59 (55.7%) were vitamin D–deficient, 36 (34%) had insufficiency, and 11 (10.4%) had optimal levels. GDM was diagnosed in 18 women (17%), with a positive correlation observed between vitamin D deficiency and GDM (chi-square = 4.472, P = .049). Furthermore, a significant relationship was noted between higher BMI and risk of GDM.
It was found that 72.2% of the GDM cases were associated with vitamin D deficiency, while 22.2% of the cases were linked to vitamin D insufficiency. The average vitamin D level in the group with GDM was 16.4 ± 6.6 ng/mL, whereas in the group without GDM, it was 20.3 ± 7.8 ng/mL.
The study reported a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of GDM. The authors concluded that pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency "may benefit from vitamin D supplementation," and that "further research is necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of vitamin D's effects on pregnancy."
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.