Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem that increases risk for metabolic bone diseases in children and adults as well as many chronic illnesses including autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and cancer. This has raised important questions concerning the physiological and clinical impact of low vitamin D levels during pregnancy, with implications for functions of vitamin D. The review describes the pathways that are required for metabolism and function of vitamin D, the various clinical complications that have been linked to impaired vitamin D status during pregnancy, and effects of vitamin D supplementation on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
References
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