Background
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder affecting 5–14% of all pregnancies and can lead to multiple adverse maternal, foetal and neonatal outcomes. Vitamin D plays a key role in the synthesis, secretion and metabolism of insulin though its receptors on pancreatic b cells. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in antenatal women leads to 1.8 times higher odds of development of GDM. This study highlights the impact of various antenatal vitamin D supplementation regimenson glycaemic control and perinatal outcomes among women having both GDM and VDD.
Methods and material
This study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar from January 2019–December 2019. This was a randomized controlled trial, 487 antenatal women were screened for GDM and VDD and were randomised into control and intervention groups and received vitamin D 500 IU/day and 60,000 IU vitamin D once in two weeks respectively. All the participants were assessed for glycaemic control and perinatal outcomes.
Results
High prevalence of VDD was found among women with GDM (73%). Better glycaemic control in terms of blood sugar levels and reduced insulin requirement was observed in the high dose supplementation group. Poor perinatal outcomes were observed among 45.4% and 22.8% of the participants of control and intervention group respectively
Conclusions
High dose of vitamin D supplementation provides better glycaemic control and improves perinatal outcomes among women with GDM having VDD. Routine vitamin D testing and high dose supplementation in antenatal women with proven VDD can be considered.
Trial registration
CTRI Number CTRI/2019/01/017185
