Research Article

Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements

Volume: 3 Number: 3 October 27, 2026
EN TR

Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, their association with neonatal anthropometry, and changes in 25(OH)D distribution after 400 IU/day prophylaxis. Methods: This study included 46 healthy term mother–infant pairs at Erzurum Atatürk University. Mothers were grouped by use or non-use of 1200 IU/day vitamin D during pregnancy. Maternal demographic and obstetric data, and neonatal gestational age, sex, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Anthropometry was repeated at one month. Levels of 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) were measured in maternal venous blood, cord venous blood, and one-month infant serum. The Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman correlation, and linear regression were used. Results: Median maternal 25(OH)D was 6.57 ng/mL, and 97.8% of mothers had levels <20 ng/mL. Maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were higher with supplementation (P=0.015 and P=0.003, respectively). Maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were positively correlated (r=0.410; P<0.005), and maternal levels explained 17% of the variance. Maternal or cord blood 25(OH)D levels were not associated with birth anthropometry. At one month, 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/mL increased to 87%. Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D status is reflected in cord blood 25(OH)D levels. Persistent maternal deficiency despite national supplementation suggests that strategies should be re-evaluated, especially in regions with long winters. Standard 400 IU/day prophylaxis appears effective early postnatally.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has receivedno financial support.

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine on 09.06.2017 at meeting no. 3 with decision no. 33, and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and the Pediatrics Clinic of Erzurum Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine.

Thanks

I would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Handan ALAY, who supported me throughout my thesis process, for her valuable contributions and kind support.

References

  1. Adams, J. B., Kirby, J. K., Sorensen, J. C., Pollard, E. L., & Audhya, T. (2022). Evidence based recommendations for an optimal prenatal supplement for women in the US: vitamins and related nutrients. Matern Health, Neonatology and perinatology, 8(1),4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-022-00139-9
  2. Agarwal, S., Kovilam, O., & Agrawal, D. K. (2018). Vitamin D and its impact on maternal-fetal outcomes in pregnancy: A critical review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 58(5),755–769. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2016.1220915
  3. Alanazi, M., Aboushady, R. M. N., & Kamel, A. D. (2022). Association between different levels of maternal vitamin-D status during pregnancy and maternal outcomes. Clinical nutrition Espen, 50, 307–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.04.024
  4. Ateş, S., Aydın, S., Gökmen Karasu, A. F., & Dane, B. (2017). Association Between Maternal Vitamin D Status and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women. Medical Bulletin of Haseki/Haseki Tip Bulteni, 55(1),15 https://doi.org/10.4274/haseki.3179
  5. Cabaset, S., Krieger, J. P., Richard, A., Elgizouli, M., Nieters, A., Rohrmann, S., & Quack Lötscher, K. C. (2019). Vitamin D status and its determinants in healthy pregnant women living in Switzerland in the first trimester of pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 19(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2150-1
  6. Chen, C., Zhou, C., Zhang, J., Tian, Y., Wang, X., Jiao, X., Zhang, Y., & Yu, X. (2024). Associations between longitudinal maternal and cord blood vitamin d status and child growth trajectories up to 4 years of age. Nutrients, 16(15), 2410. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16152410
  7. Chien, M. C., Huang, C. Y., Wang, J. H., Shih, C. L., & Wu, P. (2024). Effects of vitamin D in pregnancy on maternal and offspring health-related outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analyses. Nutrition and Diabetes, 14(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41387-024-00296-0
  8. Dawodu, A., Saadi, H. F., Bekdache, G., Javed, Y., Altaye, M., & Hollis, B. W. (2013). Randomized controlled trial (RCT) of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy in a population with endemic vitamin D deficiency. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(6), 2337–2346. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-1154

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Rural Clinical Health

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 27, 2026

Submission Date

July 21, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 3 Number: 3

APA
Aras, T., Orbak, Z., Alay, R. A., & Öztürk, N. (2026). Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements. Current Research in Health Sciences, 3(3), 146-154. https://doi.org/10.62425/crihs.2000216
AMA
1.Aras T, Orbak Z, Alay RA, Öztürk N. Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements. Curr Res Health Sci. 2026;3(3):146-154. doi:10.62425/crihs.2000216
Chicago
Aras, Turgay, Zerrin Orbak, Ragıp Afşın Alay, and Nurinnisa Öztürk. 2026. “Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements”. Current Research in Health Sciences 3 (3): 146-54. https://doi.org/10.62425/crihs.2000216.
EndNote
Aras T, Orbak Z, Alay RA, Öztürk N (October 1, 2026) Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements. Current Research in Health Sciences 3 3 146–154.
IEEE
[1]T. Aras, Z. Orbak, R. A. Alay, and N. Öztürk, “Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements”, Curr Res Health Sci, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 146–154, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.62425/crihs.2000216.
ISNAD
Aras, Turgay - Orbak, Zerrin - Alay, Ragıp Afşın - Öztürk, Nurinnisa. “Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements”. Current Research in Health Sciences 3/3 (October 1, 2026): 146-154. https://doi.org/10.62425/crihs.2000216.
JAMA
1.Aras T, Orbak Z, Alay RA, Öztürk N. Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements. Curr Res Health Sci. 2026;3:146–154.
MLA
Aras, Turgay, et al. “Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements”. Current Research in Health Sciences, vol. 3, no. 3, Oct. 2026, pp. 146-54, doi:10.62425/crihs.2000216.
Vancouver
1.Turgay Aras, Zerrin Orbak, Ragıp Afşın Alay, Nurinnisa Öztürk. Investigation of the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal and Cord Blood 25(OH)D Levels and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements. Curr Res Health Sci. 2026 Oct. 1;3(3):146-54. doi:10.62425/crihs.2000216

Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License

30426