Vitamin D and risk of preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Vitamin D and risk of preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Serrano-Díaz et al., 2018 | Biomedica | Meta Analysis

Citation

Serrano-Díaz Norma Cecilia, Gamboa-Delgado Edna Magaly, ... Quintero-Lesmes Doris Cristina. Vitamin D and risk of preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomedica. 2018-May-01;38 Suppl 1:43-53. doi:10.7705/biomedica.v38i0.3683

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Human vitamin D levels have been increasingly related to a wide range of clinical outcomes. There is a large amount of reports on its associations, especially with obstetric complications, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. These results are scarcely consistent and there is still a lack of quality intervention studies to confirm the role of vitamin D in those outcomes. Objective: To review the available scientific evidence on the role of maternal vitamin D in the development of preeclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methodology used followed the recommendations of the Cochrane guide for the preparation of systematic reviews, and for metaanalysis, the Guide of the Metaanalysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology group (MOOSE). The search included both observational studies and controlled clinical trials. RESULTS: Low vitamin D levels, measured by the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test, are common in pregnancy. The results of this systematic review and metaanalysis suggest an inverse ratio between vitamin D levels and the development of preeclampsia. There was heterogeneity among the studies with regard to the design, population, geographic location, definitions of exposure, and the outcome. We excluded randomized controlled trials from this meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: The inverse association we found suggests that the higher the levels of vitamin D the lesser the probability of developing preeclampsia, in spite of the heterogeneity of the global measurement in this type of analysis.

Key Findings

Low vitamin D levels, measured by the 25-hydroxyvitamin D test, are common in pregnancy. The results of this systematic review and metaanalysis suggest an inverse ratio between vitamin D levels and the development of preeclampsia. There was heterogeneity among the studies with regard to the design, population, geographic location, definitions of exposure, and the outcome. We excluded randomized controlled trials from this meta-analysis.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition diabetes

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pre-Eclampsia
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency
  • Vitamins

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09