Okay, so here I go again about the impacts of Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy. This critical substance affects expectant mothers is countless ways – today, we are going to focus on urinary incontinence, which is a common concern both during pregnancy and post-partum. I refer my patients out frequently to pelvic floor physio to address the anatomical factors related to pelvic health.
An interesting new Norwegian study has now linked Vitamin D insufficiency with bladder/pelvic floor function, suggesting the presence of vitamin D receptors in skeletal muscle. Accordingly, numerous studies have found that Vitamin D affects muscle strength and function, and low serum levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced muscle mass, strength and performance. It is not surprising, then, that Vitamin D insufficiency has emerged as a risk factor for pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence. On the flip side, a positive correlation between pre-childbirth vitamin D levels and postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance has been observed.
In this study of pregnant women, urinary incontinence was more frequent in women with vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25(OH)D of <50nmol/L) – the risk increased by 50% in vitamin-D-insufficient pregnant women.
All the more reason to make sure that pregnancy levels of Vitamin D are sufficient!
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
If you are hungry for more evidence-based information in your pregnancy, sign up for my free webinar: 7 Pregnancy Myths Debunked – and get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a thriving baby.
And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your pregnant patients, please get in touch with us at support@
In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
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References:
Stafne, SN. et al. (2020). Vitamin D and stress urinary incontinence in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.