Effects of vitamin D on insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose in pregnant women with insufficient or deficient vitamin D: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance, and secondary outcomes like depression, musculoskeletal pain, gestational diabetes, and abortion rates in pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency.
Results Summary
The study found that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved musculoskeletal pain (knee, ankle, and leg pain) but did not affect fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance, depression symptoms, gestational diabetes incidence, or abortion rates.
Population
Pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml.
Effective Dosage
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily.
Duration
18 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | decrease | musculoskeletal pain | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | could improve | #1 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #2 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | fasting blood insulin (FBI) levels | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #3 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #4 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | depression symptoms score | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #5 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | incidence of GDM | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #6 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | no change | abortion | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | couldn't decrease | #7 |
4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily | increase | serum vitamin D level | pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml | - | there was only a difference in terms of | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy. Some studies have reported the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of this disorder. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, fasting blood insulin (FBI) levels and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (primary outcomes) and symptoms of depression, musculoskeletal pain, frequency of gestational diabetes and the frequency of abortion (secondary outcomes). METHODS: In this triple-blind randomized controlled trial, 88 pregnant women at 8-10 weeks of pregnancy who had the vitamin D of less than 30 ng/ml were randomly assigned to the vitamin D group (n = 44) and control group (n = 44) using block randomization. The vitamin D group received 4,000 units of vitamin D tablets daily and the control group received placebo tablets for 18 weeks. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U and ANCOVA tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: After the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of FBG (P = 0.850), FBI (P = 0.353), HOMA-IR (P = 0.632), mean score of depressive symptoms (P = 0.505), frequency of gestational diabetes (P = 0.187) and frequency of abortion (P = 1.000) and there was only a difference in terms of serum vitamin D level (P = 0.016) and musculoskeletal pain including knee pain (P = 0.025), ankle pain (P < 0.001) and leg pain (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D could improve the musculoskeletal pain in pregnant women but couldn't decrease FBG, FBI, HOMA-IR, depression symptoms score, incidence of GDM and abortion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N59. Date of registration: 4/11/2020. URL: https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/50973/view ; Date of first registration: 21/11/2020.