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The Effects of Vitamins on Maternal and Infant Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2026) | Viewed by 1448

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Santi Paolo Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Interests: fetal–maternal medicine; fetal programming; prediction and management of great obstetric syndromes; placental disease; prenatal diagnosis

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Guest Editor
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Laboratory, Division of Pediatrics, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Interests: fetal development; cardiovascular physiology; experimental nephrology; neonatology; pediatrics; DOHaD; nutrition; ethics; epigenetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A growing body of evidence endorses the pivotal role of vitamins in both maternal and infant health, from the beginning of pregnancy to the “developmental origins of health and disease” (DOHaD) hypothesis, based on the influence of early developmental exposures and fetal growth on the risk of chronic diseases in later periods.

Some specific effects of vitamins are currently well-known; thus, their supplementation starting from the preconception period is strongly encouraged. Vitamins such as folic acid and vitamin D are essential for cell division and preventing neural tube defects, and they are important for bone health and in reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight.

Robust evidence considering individual needs and tailored medicine is required for the safe and effective supplementation of vitamins such as folic acid, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, choline, and omega-3 fatty acids and to determine how they can decrease the risks of pregnancy complications, improve maternal health, and provide long-term benefits for the child's health and development. Individuals should focus on consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to ensure the adequate intake of many essential vitamins.

The present Special Issue aims to summarize the current evidence of both short and long-term benefits of vitamin intake for the feto-maternal dyad. It also aims to share original findings from well-designed prospective studies. We welcome systematic reviews and/or meta analyses on this topic.

Dr. Stefania Triunfo
Prof. Dr. Umberto O. Simeoni
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • vitamin intake
  • diet
  • pregnancy
  • feto-maternal dyad
  • short and long-term benefits
  • developmental origins of health and disease

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 448 KB  
Article
First Trimester Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Mexican Cohort
by Lidia Arce-Sánchez, Isabel González-Ludlow, Ileana Lizano-Jubert, Jocelyn Andrea Almada-Balderrama, Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico, Araceli Montoya-Estrada, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Maribel Sánchez-Martinez, Juan Mario Solis-Paredes, Johnatan Torres-Torres, Ameyalli Mariana Rodríguez-Cano, Maricruz Tolentino-Dolores, Otilia Perichart-Perera, Mariana Villegas-Soto and Enrique Reyes-Muñoz
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010097 - 27 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (APOs). This study aimed to examine whether vitamin D deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy is linked to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (APOs). This study aimed to examine whether vitamin D deficiency during the first trimester of pregnancy is linked to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a Mexican population. Methods: A total of 404 pregnant women from the Biochemical and Epigenetic Origin of Overweight and Obesity (OBESO) cohort were included. Maternal vitamin D levels were measured between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a level below 20.0 ng/mL. The primary goal was to compare APOs between Group 1 (women with vitamin D deficiency) and Group 2 (women without vitamin D deficiency). Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for APOs—including GDM, preeclampsia, preterm birth, miscarriage, cesarean section, and neonatal size—were calculated, adjusting for pregestational body mass index (BMI) and obesity, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 40.5% of women. Pre-pregnancy BMI and obesity were significantly higher in women with deficiency; other baseline characteristics did not differ between groups. Women with vitamin D deficiency had a higher risk of GDM (aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.14–3.65, p = 0.01). No association was found between vitamin D deficiency and other APOs. Conclusions: The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in the first trimester was 40.5%. Early pregnancy vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of GDM among Mexican women. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and supplementing vitamin D during pregnancy to reduce the risk of GDM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Vitamins on Maternal and Infant Health)
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