The monthly use of vitamin D supplementation dosed at 60,000 IU, initiated during early pregnancy (not more than 4 months of gestation), markedly slashes the occurrence of pregnancy-associated risks and complications for both mothers and infants, reported a one-of-its-kind study in the Democratic Republic of Congo. featured in BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Given the scarcity of data on vitamin D supplementation in preventing the occurrence of preeclampsia, Richard Kabuseba Kabuyanga et al. shed light on the matter by evaluating the impact of cholecalciferol supplementation on preeclampsia incidence in primigravid women and its effects on both maternal and fetal health.

A single-blinded clinical trial was conducted in 14 antenatal care health facilities across the Democratic Republic of Congo spanning from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. It included 1300 women (median maternal age: 21 years, median gestational age: 15 weeks) who were pregnant for the first time (primigravid) who were randomised to receive a single monthly oral dose of either vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 60,000 IU (Group A) for 6 months or control (Group B) group. The serum 25(OH)D was assessed at enrollment and 34 weeks of gestation. Evaluations of outcomes were conducted monthly until childbirth. The women in the Vitamin D group showed a notable decrease in the likelihood of experiencing preeclampsia and delivering prematurely (Table 1):

An RR of 0.43 [(0.27–0.67); p < 0.001] and 0.63 [(0.52–0.75); p < 0.001] was associated with low birth weight and C-section, respectively. Also, the supplemented group had a considerably greater APGAR (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration) score at the 5th minute and newborn size.