An overview to vitamin d deficiency and treatment in pregnant women

Vitamin D is a lipid soluble prehormone which has a well known role in regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis as well as bone metabolism.   Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem all over the world. In fact, the condition is considered as a pandemia. The most recognized effect of vitamin D is over metabolism of calcium and phosphor and bone mineralization; deficiency causes a clinical presentation called rickets in children and osteomalasia in adults. However, association of vitamin D deficiency with many chronic diseases such as common cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, infectious and autoimmune diseases was found in the recent years. The aim of the present review was to present an updated approach to effects of vitamin D deficiency on pregnant women and fetuses as well as treatment of the deficiency which is very common in adults.