The relationship of hypovitaminosis D and IL-6 in preeclampsia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Given the demonstrated antiinflammatory function of vitamin D in multiple organ systems including trophoblast cells and placenta, we hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency contributes to the development of preeclampsia through increased inflammation, as indicated by elevated interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations.

STUDY DESIGN:

Plasma samples from a large preeclampsia cohort study were examined in 100 preeclamptic and 100 normotensive pregnant women. Comparisons of vitamin D and IL-6 concentrations used Student t test and χ(2) test or their nonparametric counterparts. A logistic regression model assessed the association among vitamin D, IL-6 concentrations, and preeclampsia risk.

RESULTS:

The mean concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 49.4 ± 22.6 nmol/L in normotensives and 42.3 ± 17.3 nmol/L in preeclamptic women (P = .01). The median (interquartile range: Q1, Q3) concentrations of IL-6 were 2.0 (1.3, 3.4) pg/mL and 4.4 (2.2, 10.0) pg/mL in the control and preeclampsia groups, respectively (P < .01). We observed a significant association between IL-6 elevation and preeclampsia (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-10.8; P < .01) and between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia (odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-12.8; P = .04). However, there was no association between vitamin D deficiency and IL-6 elevation.

CONCLUSION:

Third-trimester IL-6 elevation and vitamin D deficiency were independently associated with the risk of preeclampsia. We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency alters the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by activation of inflammation as assessed by IL-6 concentration.

• Authors: Lai Xu, Minjae Lee, Arun Jeyabalan, James M Roberts
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 210 Issue 2 Pg. 149.e1-7 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24080305 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Vitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Pre-Eclampsia (blood, etiology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, Third (blood)
• Risk Factors
• Vitamin D (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, complications)