Maternal vitamin D levels and the risk of perinatal death

Objective: To determine the association between maternal vitamin D levels and perinatal death.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of all non-anomalous, singleton births (≥24 weeks) with perinatal death compared to a matched control group. Only pregnancies with a recorded vitamin D level at booking (8–19 weeks gestation) were included for analysis. Maternal vitamin D levels were categorized into normal, deficient and insufficient cohorts and variables compared between the three groups.

Results: There were 31 perinatal deaths which were compared to 111 controls. Median vitamin D levels were lower in the perinatal death cohort compared to the control group (55?nmol/L versus 64?nmol/L, p?=?0.43). There was no significant increase in deaths between the normal and deficient (p?=?0.33) or insufficient (p?=?0.09) groups.

Conclusions: Low maternal vitamin D levels at booking were not associated with an increased risk of perinatal demise.