1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Preterm Birth in African American and Caucasian Women. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thota, Chandrasekhar; Menon, Ramkumar; Fortunato, Stephen J.; Brou, Lina; Lee, Jae-Eun; Al-Hendy, Ayman
• Is Part Of: Reproductive sciences. Volume 21:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 244
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: preterm birth -- African Americans -- Caucasians -- 25-(OH) vitamin D -- 1, 25-(OH)2 vitamin D -- serum levels; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; 612.6
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719113493513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-7191

Abstract

Vitamin (vit) D deficiency and preterm birth (PTB) are more prevalent among African American (AA) women compared to caucasian (Cau) women. Because vit D is important in regulating cell-mediated immune responses, vit D insufficiency or deficiency during pregnancy may enhance inflammation in pregnant women and increase the risk of PTB. In this study, circulatory levels of 25-hydroxy (OH) and 1, 25-dihydroxy (OH)2 vit D were measured using chemiluminescence and radioimmunoassay techniques, respectively, in AA (n = 108) and Cau (n = 84) women who delivered at term and preterm. The results from this study suggest that the serum levels of the 25-(OH) vit D concentrations tend to decrease ( P = .06) in the Cau women who delivered at preterm compared to those delivering at term. However, the 25-(OH) vit D levels in Cau and AA between term and preterm deliveries were not significantly different. The serum levels of 1, 25-(OH)2 vit D were found to be significantly lower in AA women compared to Cau women ( P < .02) at term, and in the Cau ( P < .01) and AA ( P < .04) women delivering at preterm compared to those delivering at term. One-way analysis of variance demonstrated that 1, 25-(OH)2 vit D levels were significantly lower in participants delivering at preterm (<34 weeks and between 34 and 37 weeks) compared to those delivering at term (>37 weeks).These results suggest that low levels of serum 1, 25-(OH)2 vit D are associated with PTB, and vit D can potentially be used as a novel diagnostic marker in the detection of PTB.