Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Is Associated With Greater LDL-C Rise, Elevated β-Hydroxybutyrate, and Altered Neonatal Metabolic Markers
Pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency showed steeper LDL-C increases and higher β-hydroxybutyrate levels during gestation, with downstream effects on cord blood metabolic markers.
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What the study showed
Women with vitamin D deficiency (< 30 nmol/L) had significantly larger LDL-C increases across pregnancy and higher β-OH-butyrate at 24–28 weeks in adjusted analyses. In cord blood, offspring of deficient mothers had elevated β-OH-butyrate, while lipid concentrations were similar across groups. Cord blood vitamin D was highest in offspring of sufficient mothers.
How it was done
Secondary pooled analysis of the DALI randomized controlled trial, including 962 overweight or obese pregnant women (BMI ≥ 29 kg/m²) stratified into three vitamin D status groups. Assessments were conducted at < 20, 24–28, and 35–37 weeks of gestation and at delivery via cord blood.
Risk of bias
This is a secondary, post-hoc analysis of an RCT not originally powered or designed for vitamin D outcomes; the deficient group (n = 102) is relatively small. Residual confounding cannot be excluded.
What this study does NOT prove
It cannot be concluded that vitamin D supplementation will reduce LDL-C, ketonemia, or adverse neonatal outcomes.
In clinical practice
Findings support monitoring vitamin D status in obese pregnant women but do not provide sufficient evidence to recommend supplementation based solely on these data. Primary prospective evidence is needed before clinical practice changes.
Limitations
This is a secondary, post-hoc analysis of an RCT not originally powered or designed for vitamin D outcomes; the deficient group (n = 102) is relatively small. Residual confounding cannot be excluded.
Technical appendix
Version history
- 1.0 · 2026-08-16 — Auto-generated under Evidence Standard v1.0
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