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. 2025 Jun 12:13:1605489.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1605489. eCollection 2025.

The efficacy of calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation in improving pregnancy and neonatal outcomes

Fei Wang  1 , Mengqing Shen  1 , Ting Wu  1 , Yang Zhang  1 , Yun Wang  1 , Congyun Zhou  2
Affiliations

The efficacy of calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation in improving pregnancy and neonatal outcomes

Fei Wang et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effects of combined calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation on maternal, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Clinical data from 122 pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into three groups based on their actual intake: control (n = 48), Calcium 600-Vitamin D (600 mg calcium + 1,000 IU vitamin D daily, n = 41), and Calcium 1,200-Vitamin D (1,200 mg calcium + 1,000 IU vitamin D daily, n = 33). Baseline characteristics and outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, birth weight, and Apgar scores were collected and analyzed.

Results: Calcium and vitamin D₃ supplementation was associated with significantly lower rates of gestational diabetes (P = 0.035), preeclampsia (P = 0.032), and gestational hypertension (P = 0.047), as well as reduced leg cramp frequency (P < 0.001). Neonatal outcomes improved with higher birth weights (P < 0.001) and better 1-minute Apgar scores (P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression confirmed that high-dose supplementation (Calcium 1,200-Vitamin D) was independently associated with reduced risks of gestational diabetes (OR = 0.423, 95% CI: 0.123-0.869, P = 0.043) and gestational hypertension (OR = 0.342, 95% CI: 0.126-0.875, P = 0.012). Both supplementation groups significantly reduced leg cramp frequency: Calcium 600-Vitamin D (OR = 0.507, 95% CI: 0.355-0.723, P < 0.001) and Calcium 1,200-Vitamin D (OR = 0.512, 95% CI: 0.256-0.985, P = 0.012). No significant differences were found in other outcomes including preterm birth, neonatal infection, or NICU admission (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study suggests that combined calcium and vitamin D₃ supplementation during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications and improve neonatal outcomes, supporting its potential as an adjunct to prenatal care. Further large-scale and long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Keywords: calcium; maternal health; neonatal outcomes; pregnancy; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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