The influence of vitamin D on reproductive health (literature review)

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Denisova T., Samoylova A., Vasilyeva E., Gerasimova L.

The influence of vitamin D on reproductive health (literature review)

Keywords: vitamin D deficiency, female reproductive health, pregnancy, fetus and newborn development, prevention

Currently, no less than 30-50% of the world's population have a low supply of vitamin D. According to modern concepts, vitamin D plays an important role in numerous physiological processes, turning into active metabolites in the body. Renal production of vitamin D performs "classical" functions, affects blood pressure regulation and has an immunotropic and neuroprotective effect. Extrarenal production implements other biological effects: regulation of cellular growth and differentiation, support of protein synthesis and breakdown processes, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties, muscular function control, insulin secretion, blood coagulation, central nervous system activity, regulation of gametogenesis, apoptosis and embryogenesis, lowering the risk of developing autoimmune diseases. From the literature data it is known that in the tissues of reproductive organs – in the ovaries, uterus, placenta and pituitary gland – vitamin D nuclear receptor (VDR) and 1α-hydroxylase were found. In this regard, association of the role of vitamin D and the condition of female reproductive health, the course of pregnancy and childbirth is obvious. Against the background of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, the rate of cesarean section is 4 times higher than that in pregnant women with normal vitamin D levels as well as the frequency of preterm labor and anomalies in uterine contractile activity, which is associated with a low level of ionized calcium in myocytes, since the release of ionized calcium is carried out under the influence of vitamin D. Vitamin D is involved in programming fetal and newborn development, the level of vitamin D in pregnant women has a direct relationship with the body weight of the child at birth and his head circumference, hypovitaminosis D of the mother has a significant effect on the development of bone tissue and congenital immunity in the fetus, which is of great importance for formation of chronic diseases soon after birth, as well as at a later age. Replenishment of vitamin D deficiency has very broad prospects for optimizing the health status of women and children, and may be one of the most important preventive health programs.

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About authors

Samoilova Alla Vladimirovna: doctor of medicine, professor, obstetrics and gynecology department head , Chuvash State University, Russia, Cheboksary (allasamoi@mail.ru; )

Vasilieva Elvira N.: Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chuvash State University, Russia, Cheboksary (elnikvas@mail.ru; )

Gerasimova Ludmila Ivanovna: doctor of medical sciences, professor, public health and health organization department head, rector, Postgraduate Doctors' Training Institute, Russia, Cheboksary )

Denisova Tamara G.: Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chuvash State University, Russia, Cheboksary (tomadenisova@rambler.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0517-2632)

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Denisova T., Samoylova A., Vasilyeva E., Gerasimova L. The influence of vitamin D on reproductive health (literature review) [Electronic resource] // Acta medica Eurasica. – 2018. – №3. P. 9-19. – URL: https://acta-medica-eurasica.ru/en/single/2018/3/2/.

Single article

Denisova T., Samoylova A., Vasilyeva E., Gerasimova L.