Association between serum hypovitaminosis D and preeclampsia: A nested case-control study

Chukwuemeka C. Okoro 1, *, Gerald O. Udigwe 1, 2, George U. Eleje 1, 2, Okechukwu C. Ikpeze 1, 2, Chukwunonso I. Enechukwu 1, Richard O. Egeonu 1, Chigozie G. Okafor 1, Chijioke O. Ezeigwe 1, 2, Amarachukwu D. Okoro 3, Evaristus C. Ezema 4, Adaobi M. Ibekwe 5 and Joseph I. Ikechebelu 1, 2

1 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, PMB 5025, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, PMB 5025, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
3 School of Nursing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, PMB 5025, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
4 Essen Medical Groups, Bronx, NY, US.
5 Department of Nursing Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 07(01), 009–017
Article DOI: 10.30574/msarr.2023.7.1.0015
Publication history: 
Received on 11 December 2022; revised on 25 January 2023; accepted on 27 January 2023
 
Abstract: 
Background: Preeclampsia is a major complication of pregnancy and a major cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the aetiology and pathophysiology of preeclampsia. However, there is no uniformity in the findings of previous studies on the association between vitamin D and preeclampsia.
Aims and Objectives: The study is aimed at determining the association between preeclampsia and maternal vitamin D deficiency.
Materials and Methods: This nested case-control study was conducted among 158 pregnant women (78 preeclamptic women and 80 controls) with singleton pregnancies. Case participants were women with preeclampsia. The controls were matched pregnant women without preeclampsia. Their serum vitamin D levels were determined.
Statistics: Continuous data was analysed using T-test. The statistical significance was inferred at p- value ≤0.05.
Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in our study was 7.0% overall. The proportion of women with hypovitaminosis D was not significantly different between preeclampsia group and control group (7.7% vs 6.3% respectively; p=0.76). The mean serum concentration of vitamin D in the preeclamptic group was lower than that in the control group, however, the difference was not statistically significant (118.8±17.4nmol/L vs 129.0±19.7nmol/L, p=0.17). There was a weak association between gestational age and the level of serum vitamin D in both groups (r= 0.062 and r= -0.13 respectively).
Conclusions: Hypovitaminosis D is not significantly associated with preeclampsia when compared with control. However, there was a weak association between gestational age and the level of serum vitamin D in both groups.
 
Keywords: 
Cholecalciferol; Vitamin D; Hypovitaminosis D; Vitamin D deficiency; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy
 
Full text article in PDF: