Role of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D levels in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and correlation with total bile acid

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and Vitamin D and B12 levels. The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional, case–control study that evaluated 92 ICP cases and 102 pregnant women without any additional disease. ICP cases were grouped as mild and severe according to their total bile acid (TBA) levels, and their relationship with Vitamin D and B12 levels and perinatal outcomes was evaluated. Vitamin D and B12 levels of the ICP group were significantly lower than those of the control group. There was a moderate negative correlation between TBA and Vitamin D levels and a low negative correlation between TBA and Vitamin B12 levels. Adverse neonatal outcomes were significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the mild ICP group.

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? The pathophysiology of ICP, which can lead to adverse perinatal outcomes, is not yet fully understood, and there is no preventive treatment.

• What do the results of this study add? This study showed that Vitamins B12 and D levels were low in women with ICP and that TBA levels were negatively correlated with Vitamin D and B12 levels.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study may guide future studies in terms of explaining the etiopathogenesis of ICP and developing treatment options.

Keywords:

• Cholestasis
• pregnancy
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• total bile acid

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interests in connection with this article.