Exposure to vitamin D from fortified margarine during fetal life and later risk of pre-eclampsia: the D-tect Study. Issue 4 (20th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stougaard, Maria; Damm, Peter; Frederiksen, Peder; Jacobsen, Ramune; Heitmann, Berit L
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 21:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 721
• Page End: 731
• Publication Date: 2017-12-20
• Subjects: Vitamin D, -- Fortification, -- Fetal life, -- Pregnancy, -- Pre-eclampsia; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980017003135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: T o examine if fetal exposure to a small dosage of extra vitamin D from food fortification was associated with a decrease in the risk of pre-eclampsia later in life. Design: Cancellation of the mandatory vitamin D fortification of margarine in 1985 created a societal experiment, with entire adjacent birth cohorts exposed or unexposed to extra vitamin D during fetal development. The Danish national medical health registries allowed the identification of pre-eclampsia cases later in life among all exposed and unexposed female individuals. Setting: Denmark. Subjects: Women born between June 1983 and August 1988, who gave birth to their first child at age 14·5–27·5 years ( n 32 621). Results: OR (95 % CI) for pre-eclampsia among women exposed v . unexposed to extra vitamin D from fortification during fetal development was 0·86 (0·76, 0·97). Exposure to extra vitamin D was associated with further reduced odds of pre-eclampsia (0·49 (0·34, 0·72)) among current smokers, but not among former smokers and non-smokers. Conclusions: Additional vitamin D in fetal life from food fortification seems to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia later in life. The risk reduction may be particularly strong among women who smoke during pregnancy.