Serum Vitamin D Status in Women with Preeclampsia in Ibadan, Nigeria - A Case-Control Study

Aims: Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, proteinuria and edema. Recent studies suggest that there is a possible link between Vitamin D status and preeclampsia. There is little knowledge on vitamin D status of pregnant and preeclamptic women in this region. This study was carried out to assess serum levels of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH)D3) in normotensive pregnant women and preeclamptic women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Study Design: Case-Control Study.

Place and Duration of Study: One hundred and twenty women were recruited from Antenatal Clinic of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Adeoyo Maternity Clinic, Ibadan between January 2016 to August 2017. Sixty normotensive pregnant women (mean age 32.1± 4.8) as control and sixty preeclamptic women (mean age 33.4± 3.2) as case group. Blood samples were collected at 2nd, 3rd trimester and postpartum.

Methodology: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was quantified by Enzyme Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and data obtained were analyzed with Student t-test and One way analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

Results: Results showed that preclamptic women had significantly lower levels (P<.05) of Vitamin D at 20 weeks (24.5±4.6 vs 36.59±5.1), 30 weeks (23.8±3.9 vs 34.14±3.7), and postpartum (21.7±5.5 vs 32.62±3.2) when compared to control group. The results of this study show that there is Vitamin D insufficiency in preeclamptic women in the study environment.

Conclusion: Vitamin D insufficiency might be associated with preeclampsia. Vitamin D supplementation and diets rich in Vitamin D, can help to reduce the risk of preeclampsia and also be a possible target for improved pregnancy outcomes in preeclampsia.