The impact of vitamin D deficiency on female fertility and pregnancy performance: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.1.2025.469Keywords:
infertility, micronutrients, vitamin D, pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), pre-conception preparationAbstract
Relevance: Preparation for pregnancy is an important stage that requires a comprehensive approach to a woman’s health. One key factor in successful preparation for pregnancy is the optimal level of micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, which play a crucial role in regulating reproductive function. Particular attention should be paid to vitamin D, the deficiency of which is associated with a decrease in ovarian reserve, menstrual irregularities, and an increased risk of pregnancy complications.
The study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D and other micronutrients on fertility and overall reproductive health in women and determine their potential effectiveness in preventing pregnancy complications.
Materials and Methods: The study used data from systematic reviews and original articles published between 2017 and 2024 from the international PubMed, MedLine, and Cochrane databases. The search yielded 45 sources, of which 30 clinical studies and registration data on the role of micronutrients in maintaining reproductive health and preventing pregnancy complications were included in the final analysis.
Results: The data on the importance of vitamin D and other micronutrients in preparing for pregnancy and maintaining female fertility were analyzed. Vitamin D deficiency can reduce the likelihood of successful conception and increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and premature birth.
Conclusion: The data obtained confirm the importance of optimal vitamin D levels and other micronutrients in preparing for pregnancy and maintaining fertility. The review results can form the basis for developing more accurate recommendations for correcting women’s nutritional status when planning pregnancy to increase the likelihood of conception and successful gestation.
References
Локшин В., Сулейменова М., Карибаева Ш., Джусубалиева Т., Байкошкарова С., Отарбаев М., Ахметова А., Покотило Л., Макишева А., Тарарака К., Тарарака С., Чалова Л., Ким В., Молбаев А., Имтосими Д., Лапина Е. Вспомогательные репродуктивные технологии в Казахстане за 2019 год: данные национального регистра. Репродуктивная медицина. 2022;3(52):7-14.
Lokshin V, Suleimenova M, Karibaeva Sh, Dzhusubalieva T, Baykoshkarova S, Otarbayev M, Akhmetova A, Pokotilo L, Makisheva A, Tararaka K, Tararaka S, Chalova L, Kim V, Molbayev A, Imtosimi D, Lapina E. Assisted reproductive technologies in Kazakhstan for 2019: data from the national registry. Reproductive medicine. 2022;3(52):7-14. Russian.
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.3.2022.7-14
Карибаева Ш., Маннапова М. Роль микронутриентов в прегравидарной подготовке женщин: обзор литературы. Репродуктивная медицина (Центральная Азия). 2024;3:29-34.
Karibaeva Sh, Mannapova M. The role of micronutrients in pre-conception preparation of women: a literature review. Reproductive Medicine (Central Asia). 2024;3:29-34.
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.3.2024.29-34
Громова О., Торшин И., Локшин В., Карибаева Ш., Кайдарова Д., Шатковская О. Витамин D3 в профилактике и терапии опухолей молочной железы. Репродуктивная медицина. 2019;3(40):18-24.
Gromova O, Torshin I, Lokshin V, Karibaeva Sh, Kaidarova D, Shatkovskaya O. Vitamin D3 in the prevention and treatment of breast tumors. Reproductive Medicine. 2019;3(40):18-24.
https://repromed.kz/index.php/journal/article/view/106
Gromova O, Doschanova A, Lokshin V, Tuletova A, Grebennikova G, Daniyarova L, Kaishibayeva G, Nurpeissov T, Khan V, Semenova Y, Chibisova A, Suzdalskaya N, Aitaly Z, Glushkova N. Vitamin D deficiency in Kazakhstan: Cross-Sectional study. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2020 May;199:105565.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105565
Cashman KD. Vitamin D requirements for the future-lessons learned and charting a path forward. Nutrients. 2018;10:533.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050533.
Cashman KD, Ritz C, Kiely M, Odin Collaborators. Improved dietary guidelines for vitamin D: Application of Individual Participant Data (IPD)-level meta-regression analyses. Nutrients. 2017;9:469.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9050469
Pilz S, März W, Cashman KD, Kiely ME, Whiting SJ, Holick MF, Grant WB, Pludowski P, Hiligsmann M, Trummer C, Schwetz V, Lerchbaum E, Pandis M, Tomaschitz A, Grübler MR, Gaksch M, Verheyen N, Hollis BW, Rejnmark L, Karras SN, Hahn A, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Reichrath J, Jorde R, Elmadfa I, Vieth R, Scragg R, Calvo MS, van Schoor NM, Bouillon R, Lips P, Itkonen ST, Martineau AR, Lamberg-Allardt C, Zittermann A. Rationale and plan for vitamin D food fortification: A review and guidance paper. Front Endocrinol. 2018;9:373. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00373.
Pilz S, Trummer C, Pandis M, Schwetz V, Aberer F, Grübler M, Verheyen N, Tomaschitz A, März W. Vitamin D: Current guidelines and future outlook. Anticancer Res. 2018;38:1145-1151.
https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.12324
Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, Aloia JF, Brannon PM, Clinton SK, Durazo-Arvizu RA, Gallagher JC, Gallo RL, Jones G, Kovacs CS, Mayne ST, Rosen CJ, Shapses SA. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: What clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(1):53-58.
https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2704
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Dietary reference values for vitamin D. EFSA J. 2016;14(10):4547. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4547
German Nutrition Society. New reference values for vitamin D. Ann Nutr Metab. 2012;60(4):241-246.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000337547
Brouwer-Brolsma EM, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Bouillon R, Feskens EJ, Gallagher CJ, Hypponen E, Llewellyn DJ, Stoecklin E, Dierkes J, Kies AK, Kok FJ, Lamberg-Allardt C, Moser U, Pilz S, Saris WH, van Schoor NM, Weber P, Witkamp R, Zittermann A, de Groot LC. Vitamin D: Do we get enough? A discussion between vitamin D experts in order to make a step towards the harmonisation of dietary reference intakes for vitamin D across Europe. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24(5):1567-1577.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2231-3
Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Bhasin S, Manson JE. Preventing fractures and falls: A limited role for calcium and vitamin D supplements? JAMA. 2018;319(15):1552-1553. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.3932
Gaksch M, Jorde R, Grimnes G, Joakimsen R, Schirmer H, Wilsgaard T, Mathiesen EB, Njølstad I, Løchen ML, März W, Kleber ME, Tomaschitz A, Grübler M, Eiriksdottir G, Gudmundsson EF, Harris TB, Cotch MF, Aspelund T, Gudnason V, Rutters F, Beulens JW, van 't Riet E, Nijpels G, Dekker JM, Grove-Laugesen D, Rejnmark L, Busch MA, Mensink GB, Scheidt-Nave C, Thamm M, Swart KM, Brouwer IA, Lips P, van Schoor NM, Sempos CT, Durazo-Arvizu RA, Škrabáková Z, Dowling KG, Cashman KD, Kiely M, Pilz S. Vitamin D and mortality: Individual participant data meta-analysis of standardized 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 26,916 individuals from a European consortium. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(2),e0170791. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170791
Rejnmark L, Bislev LS, Cashman KD, Eiríksdottir G, Gaksch M, Grübler M, Grimnes G, Gudnason V, Lips P, Pilz S, van Schoor NM, Kiely M, Jorde R. Non-skeletal health effects of vitamin D supplementation: A systematic review on findings from meta-analyses summarizing trial data. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(7):e0180512. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180512
Autier P, Mullie P, Macacu A, Dragomir M, Boniol M, Coppens K, Pizot C, Boniol M. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on non-skeletal disorders: A systematic review of meta-analyses and randomised trials. Lancet Diabet Endocrinol. 2017;5:986-1004.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30357-1
Jolliffe DA, Greenberg L, Hooper RL, Griffiths CJ, Camargo CA Jr, Kerley CP, Jensen ME, Mauger D, Stelmach I, Urashima M, Martineau AR. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent asthma exacerbations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. Lancet Respir Med. 2017;5:881-890. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30306-5
Roth DE, Leung M, Mesfin E, Qamar H, Watterworth J, Papp E. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: State of the evidence from a systematic review of randomised trials. BMJ. 2017;359:j5237.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5237
Bi WG, Nuyt AM, Weiler H, Leduc L, Santamaria C, Wei SQ. Association between vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and offspring growth, morbidity, and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172:635-645. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.0302
De-Regil LM, Palacios C, Lombardo LK, Peña-Rosas JP. Vitamin D supplementation for women during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;1:CD008873. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008873.pub3
Palacios C, De-Regil LM, Lombardo LK, Peña-Rosas JP. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: Updated meta-analysis on maternal outcomes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2016;164:148-155.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.02.008:
Karras SN, Wagner CL, Castracane VD. Understanding vitamin D metabolism in pregnancy: From physiology to pathophysiology and clinical outcomes. Metabolism. 2018;86:112-123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.01.004
Tsuprykov O, Buse C, Skoblo R, Haq A, Hocher B. Reference intervals for measured and calculated free 25-hydroxyvitamin D in normal pregnancy. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2018;181:80-87.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.03.005
Karras SN, Koufakis T, Fakhoury H, Kotsa K. Deconvoluting the biological roles of vitamin D-binding protein during pregnancy: A both clinical and theoretical challenge. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;9:259. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00259
Ganguly A, Tamblyn JA, Finn-Sell S, Chan SY, Westwood M, Gupta J, Kilby MD, Gross SR, Hewison M. Vitamin D, the placenta and early pregnancy: Effects on trophoblast function. J Endocrinol. 2018;236:R93-R103. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-17-0491
Zhao J, Huang X, Xu B, Yan Y, Zhang Q, Li Y. Whether vitamin D was associated with clinical outcome after IVF/ICSI: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16:13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0331-6
Gonçalves DR, Braga A, Braga J, Marinho A. Recurrent pregnancy loss and vitamin D: A review of the literature. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2018;80(5):e13022. https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13022
Mumford SL, Garbose RA, Kim K, Kissell K, Kuhr DL, Omosigho UR, Perkins NJ, Galai N, Silver RM, Sjaarda LA, Plowden TC, Schisterman EF. Association of preconception serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with livebirth and pregnancy loss: A prospective cohort study. Lancet Diabete Endocrinol. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30153-0
O’Callaghan KM, Kiely M. Systematic review of vitamin D and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Nutrients. 2018;10:E294. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10030294
Van der Pligt P, Willcox J, Szymlek-Gay EA, Murray E, Worsley A, Daly RM. Associations of maternal vitamin D deficiency with pregnancy and neonatal complications in developing countries: A systematic review. Nutrients. 2018;10:E640. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050640
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The rights to a manuscript accepted for publication are transferred to the Journal Publisher. When reprinting all or part of the material, the author must refer to the primary publication in this journal.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The articles published in this Journal are licensed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution – Non-Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International) license, which provides for their non-commercial use only. Under this license, users have the right to copy and distribute the material in copyright but are not permitted to modify or use it for commercial purposes. Full details on the licensing are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.