[Science Update] Maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and offspring’s risk of atopic eczema

Study design

• A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in the UK
• Pregnant women were randomized to:
  • Intervention group (n = 351): received cholecalciferol 1000 IU/day from 14-week gestation to delivery
  • Placebo group (n = 352): received matched placebo from 14-week gestation to delivery
• Cases of atopic eczema in offspring were defined based on the UK Working Party diagnostic criteria
   

Results

• At ages 12, 24, and 48 months, the intervention group's prevalence of atopic eczema was 7.2%, 11.4%, and 6.7% respectively, whereas the placebo group's prevalence was 12.0%, 14.6%, and 8.4%
• At age 12 months, infants who were breastfed for more than one month in the intervention group had a reduced risk of atopic eczema [OR 0.48 (0.24, 0.93), p = 0.03]
• The reduced risk was not observed in offspring who were breastfed for less than one month in the intervention group [OR 0.80 (0.29, 2.17), p = 0.66]
   

Conclusion

• This follow-up study demonstrated that maternal supplementation with 1000 IU/day cholecalciferol from 14-week gestation to delivery resulted in a reduced risk of atopic eczema in the first year of life
   

Link to the full article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/bjd.21721
 

Reference:

El-Heis S et al. Maternal antenatal vitamin D supplementation and offspring risk of atopic eczema in the first 4 years of life: evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2022;10.1111/bjd.21721.
 

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WYE-EM-092-JUL-22