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

2 min read / 02.08.2022

General Nutrition Obstetrics / Gynaecology Paediatrics

A follow up of the Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (MAVIDOS) is the first trial to demonstrate the relationship between prenatal cholecalciferol supplementation and risk of atopic eczema in offspring. In total 703 pairs of mother and offspring were included in the analysis.

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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