Vitamin D, the placenta and pregnancy

N Q Liu, M Hewison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

132 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Impaired vitamin D status is common to many populations around the world. However, data suggest that this is a particular problem for specific groups such as pregnant women. This has raised important questions concerning the physiological and clinical impact of low vitamin D levels during pregnancy, with implications for classical skeletal functions of vitamin D, as well as its diverse non-classical actions. The current review will discuss this with specific emphasis on the classical calciotropic effects of vitamin D as well as the less well established immunological functions of vitamin D that may influence pregnancy outcome. The review also describes the pathways that are required for metabolism and function of vitamin D, and the various clinical complications that have been linked to impaired vitamin D status during pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-47
Number of pages11
JournalArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Volume523
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2012

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility
  • Minerals
  • Placenta
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Reproduction
  • Vitamin D

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