Vitamin D Deficiency and Cesarean Delivery

Vitamin D is responsible not only for potassium and phosphorus uptake but also influences the health of pregnant women, new studies say. Vitamin D regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus into the blood and their delivery to bones and teeth. Together with vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D protects from common cold, diabetes, skin diseases and eye disorders. This vitamin also helps avoid caries and gum conditions, fights osteoporosis and accelerates the fracture healing process. And new studies show vitamin D deficiency does affect the pregnancy process.

Boston-based research group studied 253 pregnant women. According to the results, 28 percent of women with vitamin D deficiencies had Cesarean delivery. Yet only 14 percent of women with sufficient vitamin D level had to undergo the operation. It means women with vitamin D deficiencies are more likely to have Cesarean delivery.

In addition, low vitamin D levels increase the risk of premature death from cancer as well as the risk of heart conditions and diabetes.

Natural sources of vitamin D are butter, cheese and other diary products, eggs, caviar, parsley and mushrooms.