Background & aim: Although evidence confirms the importance of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy, there is still a debate over the adequate daily doses of vitamin D intake. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 400 and 1, 000 IU vitamin D/day on maternal serum 25 (OH) D levels. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 74 healthy pregnant women between June 12 and September 22, 2019. The intervention group (n=44) received 1, 000 IU vitamin D/day from 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy for 17 weeks, while the control group (n=39) took multivitamin supplements (400 IU vitamin D/day) from 16 weeks of pregnancy for 12 weeks. Maternal serum 25 (OH) D levels were measured at 25-28 weeks of gestation. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) through the Chi-square, Student’, s t-test, Mann-Whitney U, and linear regression tests. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups at the beginning of the study in terms of 25 (OH) D concentration (P=0. 23). The intake of 1, 000 IU vitamin D/day had a significant (β, =0. 28, P<0. 001), yet small effect (effect size=0. 30), on increasing serum 25 (OH) D levels after controlling the confounding variables. About half of the females who took 1, 000 IU vitamin D/day had a serum 25(OH) D level less than 30 ng/dl at 25-28 weeks of pregnancy. Conclusion: Even after receiving 1, 000 IU/day Vitamin D, vitamin D insufficiency was still prevalent during the second trimester of pregnancy. It seems that a higher dosage of vitamin D is required for pregnant women.

Background: Vitamin D in complex with its receptor by regulating gene expression, endometrium immune response and stimulation of endometrium decidualization can be involved in implantation. So, it seems that the amount of vitamin D in follicular fluids (FF) may have an association with ART success.Objective: First, we intended to investigate the possible association between levels of follicular fluids 25-OH vitamin D with assisted reproductive outcomes. Second, we examined relationship between 25-OH vitamin D levels with number and quality of oocytes. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, 80 infertile female candidates for IVF/ICSI were enrolled. Blood samples (on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration) and follicular fluids were taken, and then levels of serum estradiol and follicular fluids 25-OH vitamin D were measured. Also clinical characteristics of patients (duration of infertility, causes of infertility, menstrual status), number and quality of oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes, estradiol levels, and clinical pregnancy were evaluated. Results: Concentration of FF 25-OH vitamin D in pregnant women was significantly higher than non-pregnant women (p=0.007) but there were no significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), duration of infertility, menstrual status, number of oocytes, oocytes quality, number of fertilized oocytes, and serum estradiol levels between the two groups. Statistically positive correlation was found between 25-OH vitamin D levels with patient age and implantation rate (r=0.264, p=0.018 and r=0.301, p=0.007 respectively). Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that vitamin D without affecting the number and quality of oocytes can independently improve implantation rate and IVF outcome.

Background: Vitamin D level can affect pulmonary function in patient who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Objectives: There are few studies that assess this subject, so we investigate the relation of Vitamin D and COPD.Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted among the patients referred to the pulmonology clinic of Shahid Beheshti hospital of Hamadan, in which 68 of patients were assigned into the case group with COPD and 68 patients into the control group. Both groups were evaluated for respiratory differences as clinical or laboratory and the blood level of vitamin D was measured.Results: Of 136 evaluated participants with the mean age of 58.83 years old, 68 patients were studied as case group consisting of 2 females and 66 males. The results suggested that the serum level of vitamin D in COPD patients and control group patients were 22.22±15.83 ng/mL and 27.47±21.43 ng/mL, respectively. It was also found that there was a positive correlation between lung function and serum level of vitamin D in COPD. The greater the severity of COPD (forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] lower level) was, the more the vitamin D deficiency was seen. It was also clarified that there was an indirect correlation between the serum level of vitamin D in COPD patients and body mass index (BMI).Conclusions: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in COPD patients was more than that in control group patients. Due to the growing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in such patients, any use of vitamin D maybe suggested.