Fetal and Maternal Effects of Vitamin D

Abstract

Since in the early 1900s, the relationship between vitamin D and human health was discovered which led to a cure for rickets. In recent years, studies suggest that besides the rickets, vitamin D deficiency may also have an important role in the development of some clinical situations such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and tuberculosis. In addition, many studies showed that the maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy influence the development of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, periodontal diseases and for fetal or childhood periods there is a significant impact on the development of the skeletal, respiratory and the central nervous systems. In recent years, light of these studies, the knowledge about the vitamin D has been updated and multiple vitamin D supplementation programs has been applied through the definition of "subclinical vitamin D deficiency" and their effects on the non-skeletal system. In many countries, it has been emphasized that vitamin D supplementation should be given to women, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. However, in developing countries, the presence of vitamin D deficiency continues to be a huge public health problem. In this case, all physicians, especially pediatricians, obstetricians and family physicians should be alert to this important issue.