Comparison of Serum level of Vitamin D in Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia and a Control Group in Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan

Conflicting results have been reported about the association between vitamin D and preeclampsia. The aim of the current study is to compare the serum levels of vitamin D in preeclamptic, and non-preeclamptic pregnant women admitted to the Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan.

In this case-control study, 120 pregnant women were selected using convenience sampling in Zanjan in 2018-2019. Then they were divided into two groups, preeclampsia and non- preeclampsia. Both groups were matched one by one. The data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire and a researcher-made checklist. After obtaining consent from participants, blood samples were collected using the peripheral venous catheter. Then the ELISA test was used to measure vitamin D in participants. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using, independent t-test, and Chi-square test (P≤0.05).

Of the participants, 64 (53.4 %) were between 20-35 years old, 48 (40%) were older than 35 years, and 8 (6%) were younger than 20 years. Most of the participants' gestational age was between 34 and 39 weeks (89.1%). The Mean (SD) of serum level of vitamin D was significantly higher in healthy pregnant women (19.06 (7.48)) than women with preeclampsia (16.60 (5.87)) (P<0.01). Among those with preeclampsia, the highest vitamin D level (17.17) was observed at 37-39 weeks of gestation. The lowest level (10.8) was for those with less than 34 weeks gestational age.

This study demonstrated that vitamin D could be a protective factor for preeclampsia in pregnant women. However, further studies are recommended.