Vitamin D3 and women's health

Abstract

Background. Vitamin D is an essential component that regulates calcium homeostasis and many other cellular functions. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with a risk of osteopenia, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, malignant neoplasms and immune disorders. Inadequate vitamin D intake during pregnancy increases a risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight as well as it has a negative impact on both children’s and adolescents’ health. It is important for the clinician to be known administrating of vitamin D prophylactic and therapeutic regimens according to serum 25(OH)D levels. Aim. To determine causes and effects of vitamin D deficiency and to elaborate ways of their correction. Materials and methods. To write this review a search for domestic and foreign publications in Russian and international search systems (PubMed, eLibrary, etc.) for the last 2–15 years was conducted. The review includes articles from peer-reviewed literature. Results. The article shows that vitamin D has a significant impact on both the cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, respiratory and other systems functioning and perinatal outcomes that necessitates vitamin D deficiency correction. It provides schemes for effective therapeutic and prophylactic drug doses calculating depending on vitamin D3 blood serum concentration. Conclusion. Preference should be given to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) due to its better absorption properties and more efficient conversion to active vitamin metabolites (class IIC).