Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid that regulates the absorption of minerals such as calcium, zinc, and phosphate. According to Edgardo Somigliana and colleagues, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, vitamin D deficiency diminishes pregnancy rate.
The researchers conduced a study on 480 women undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures and measured their serum vitamin D levels. The analysis revealed that women with sufficient levels of vitamin D (≥20 ng/mL) produced higher quality embryos, had better embryo implantation rates and, therefore, a higher pregnancy rate compared to women suffering from vitamin D deficiency. The best in vitro fertilization outcomes were observed in women whose vitamin D levels were ≥30 ng/mL, demonstrating that this steroid has a strong influence on pregnancy chances.
As a consequence, vitamin D dietetic supplementation may represent a safe and cheap strategy to increase pregnancy rate.
- Vitamin D Deficiency and Infertility: Insights From in vitro Fertilization Cycles,
Alessio Paffoni, Stefania Ferrari, Paola Vigano, Luca Pagliardini, Enrico Papaleo, Massimo Candiani, Amedea Tirelli, Luigi Fedele, Edgardo Somigliana,
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2014.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-1802
