Environmental Pollution-Induced Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Impact on the Outcomes of Pregnancy

Environmental pollution has become a pervasive problem with far-reaching repercussions for human health, especially during crucial life stages like pregnancy. Pregnant women, in particular, are vulnerable to the negative impacts of environmental contaminants such as particulate matter, heavy metals, and industrial emissions, which can disturb the delicate balance of vital nutrients. Among these nutrients, vitamin D plays a decisive part in preserving homeostasis and general health. However, the adverse impacts of environmental pollution on pregnant women’s vitamin D levels have drawn more and more attention. The complex interplay between environmental pollutants and vitamin D homeostasis unfolds through numerous pathways. As, airborne pollutants, such as fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, obscure the sun’s UV rays, impeding the Vitamin D production in the epidermis. Concurrently, heavy metals from industrial effluents permeate the soil, jeopardizing the nutritional value of vitamin D-rich food sources. As a consequence of this, a growing number of expecting mothers experience inadequate vitamin D deficiency, which increases their risk of having preterm births, low birth weight babies, etc. Further, this issue not only endangers the pregnant woman’s health but also seriously affects the unborn child’s growth and development. This literature review demonstrates the synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D in expecting mothers and it also showcases the impact of various environmental pollutants, particularly exposure to air pollutants, which can significantly impair the bioavailability and synthesis of vitamin D in expecting mothers. Prolonged exposure to toxic agents precipitates an inevitable decline in the concentration of vitamin D, subsequently manifesting in vitamin D deficiency during gestation.