Open AccessVitamin D for the Prevention of Preeclampsia? A Hypothesis
Author(s) -
Hypponen Elina
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
nutrition reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.958
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1753-4887
pISSN - 0029-6643
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00378.x
Subject(s) - maladaptation , preeclampsia , pregnancy , vitamin d and neurology , medicine , vitamin , immune system , fetus , vitamin d deficiency , physiology , endocrinology , immunology , biology , genetics , psychiatry
Preeclampsia has been suggested to result from a partial breakdown of tolerance to the developing fetus after maternal immune maladaptation. Several of the proposed immunomodulatory properties of the hormonal vitamin D system could potentially have beneficial effects for successful maintenance of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is characterized by marked changes in vitamin D metabolism. This paper reviews the evidence suggesting that the immunomodulatory properties of 1,25(OH) 2 D may play a key role in maintaining immunological tolerance in pregnancy, and proposes that ensuring adequate vitamin D status/intake may help in the prevention and management of preeclampsia.