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Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and offspring bone development: the unmet needs of vitamin D era

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Abstract

Data from animal and human studies implicate maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy as a significant risk factor for several adverse outcomes affecting maternal, fetal, and child health. The possible associations of maternal vitamin D status and offspring bone development comprise a significant public health issue. Evidence from randomized trials regarding maternal vitamin D supplementation for optimization of offspring bone mass is lacking. In the same field, data from observational studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation is not indicated. Conversely, supplementation studies provided evidence that vitamin D has beneficial effects on neonatal calcium homeostasis. Nevertheless, a series of issues, such as technical difficulties of current vitamin D assays and functional interplay among vitamin D analytes, prohibit arrival at safe conclusions. Future studies would benefit from adoption of a gold standard assay, which would unravel the functions of vitamin D analytes. This narrative review summarizes and discusses data from both observational and supplementation studies regarding maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring bone development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    S. N. Karras, P. Anagnostis, E. Bili & D. G. Goulis

  2. Schools of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston Upon Thames, London, UK

    D. Naughton & A. Petroczi

  3. Unit of Endocrinology-Diabetes, Agios Pavlos General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    F. Papadopoulou

  4. Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital, Ring Road, Nea Efkarpia, 54601, Thessaloniki, Greece

    S. N. Karras

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  1. S. N. Karras
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  3. E. Bili
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Correspondence to S. N. Karras.

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Karras, S.N., Anagnostis, P., Bili, E. et al. Maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and offspring bone development: the unmet needs of vitamin D era. Osteoporos Int 25, 795–805 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2468-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2468-5

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