Vitamin D requirement in pregnancy to prevent deficiency in neonates: a randomised trial.
Singapore Med J. 2013 May;54(5):285-288.
Shakiba M, Iranmanesh MR.
Paediatric Department, Shahid Sadoughi Medical University, Avicenna St, Yazd, Iran. shakiba at ssu.ac.ir.
Introduction: The exact amount of vitamin D required for pregnant women to adequately supply the foetus during pregnancy is still unclear. This randomised trial attempted to determine the optimal dose of vitamin D necessary during pregnancy in order to attain a vitamin D level > 20 ng/mL in neonates.
Methods: A total of 51 healthy, pregnant women in Yazd, Iran, were recruited in 2009. Of these, 34 were randomised to receive either
- 50,000 IU (Group A ) or
- 100,000 IU (Group B ) of vitamin D3
per month from the second trimester of pregnancy.
The remaining 17 pregnant women, who formed the third group
- (Group C) and were found to have vitamin D deficiency, were initially treated with 200,000 IU of vitamin D3,
following which the dose was adjusted to 50,000 IU per month.
25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in cord blood was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and a serum 25(OH)D level < 20 ng/mL was defined as deficiency.
Results: All the pregnant women had a vitamin D level < 30 ng/mL at the beginning of the second trimester.
The neonates of 76% of women from Group A had sufficient levels of 25(OH)D.
All the neonates born to women in Groups B and C had 25(OH)D > 20 ng/mL.
No side effects were observed in our participants during the period of vitamin D supplementation.
Conclusion: A vitamin D3 dose > 50,000 IU/month is required during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy for vitamin D-deficient pregnant women in order for their neonates to achieve serum 25(OH)D levels > 20 ng/mL.
Supplementation with < 50,000 IU/month is insufficient to ensure a vitamin D level > 20 ng/mL in all neonates born to vitamin D-deficient pregnant women.
PMID: 23716156
Vitamin D levels needed
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See also VitaminDWiki
- Near the end of pregnancy 50,000 IU vitamin D weekly was great – RCT April 2013
- 35,000 IU vitamin D weekly during 3rd quarter pregnancy – RCT March 2013
- Optimal Vitamin D during pregnancy - 4000 IU March 2012
- Overview Pregnancy and vitamin D which has the following summary
IU Cumulative Benefit Blood level Cofactors Calcium $*/month 200 Better bones for mom
with 600 mg of Calcium6 ng/ml increase Not needed No effect $0.10 400 Less Rickets (but not zero with 400 IU)
3X less adolescent Schizophrenia
Fewer child seizures20-30 ng/ml Not needed No effect $0.20 2000 2X More likely to get pregnant naturally/IVF
2X Fewer dental problems with pregnancy
8X less diabetes
4X fewer C-sections (>37 ng)
4X less preeclampsia (40 ng vs 10 ng)
5X less child asthma
2X fewer language problems age 542 ng/ml Desirable < 750 mg $1 4000 2X fewer pregnancy complications
2X fewer pre-term births49 ng/ml Should have
cofactors< 750 mg $3 6000 Probable: larger benefits for above items
Just enough D for breastfed infant
More maternal and infant weightShould have
cofactors< 750 mg $4
Short url =http://is.gd/neonate_vitD