 |
| www.hlbenefits.com |
Women undergoing
ART with adequate levels of Vitamin D have a 30% increase chances of live birth
as compared to women who were found deficient in Vitamin D says the results of
a systematic review and meta-analysis published November 15, 2017 in Journal
Human Reproduction.
The lead
researcher was Dr Justin Chu, an Academic Clinical Lecturer and
Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for Tommy's National Centre
for Miscarriage Research at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Women's
and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.
It is known
that every nearly 20%-50% of women of reproductive age are deficient in Vitamin
D and many mechanisms are suggested. This meta-analysis found a higher
prevalence of women with Vit D deficiency (34.6%) and insufficiency (34.6%).
A total of 11
studies conducted over a period of 5 years (2010-2015) were included in the
review, amounting to 2700 women receiving ART. Vitamin D levels were labelled
as adequate or deficient according to Endocrine Society classification (<50 nmol/l deficient, 50–75
nmol/l insufficient and greater than 75nmol/l replete).
Pooled data from all the study for clinical pregnancy showed that
women with more than 75nmol/l of vitamin D levels have 46% higher chances of
clinical pregnancy (OR 1.46; CI 1.05–2.02; P = 0.02).
Similarly, these women with replete Vitamin D levels had a
33% increase chance of live birth rate (OR 1.33; CI 1.08–1.65; P = 0.39) and 34% increased chances
of biochemical pregnancy (OR 1.34; CI 1.04–1.73; P = 0.28).
No correlation was found between Vitamin D levels and risk of
miscarriages.
The main
source of vitamin D for people is sunlight. Foods rich in Vitamin D are oily
fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks also provide vitamin D, as well as vitamin
D supplements
The
researchers say the improved ART success in women replete in vitamin D
"could be via the actions of vitamin D on the endometrium promoting embryo
implantation or as a surrogate marker for general well-being."
Dr Chu, from
the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research,
cautioned that the findings do not mean that vitamin D supplementation
necessarily improves women’s chances of having a baby following ART as the
research can only show an association.
Dr Chu said:
“Although an association has been identified, the beneficial effect of
correction of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency needs to be tested by
performing a clinical trial.
“In the
meantime, women who want to achieve a successful pregnancy should not rush off
to their local pharmacy to buy vitamin D supplements until we know more about
its effects. It is possible to overdose on vitamin D and this can lead to too
much calcium building up in the body, which can weaken bones and damage the
heart and kidneys.”
The
researchers are calling for large randomizes studies to confirm the findings of
other studies and prove causation.
“Testing for
vitamin D concentrations is relatively cheap and widely available and its
treatment is not costly,” said Dr Chu. “It could be that correcting vitamin D
deficiency could benefit women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment, but
further research is needed to test this.”
