1Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India
2Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India
3Department of Biochemistry, Windsor University School of Medicine, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies
4Department of Anatomy and Physiology, American University of Antigua, Coolidge, St John’s, Antigua West Indies
5Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
6Department of Anatomy, Manipal University College of Malaysia, Melaka Campus
7Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, Antigua and Barbuda
*Corresponding Author E-mail: anat.sudarshan@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 May, 2026.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin present in two isoforms: vitamin D3 and D2. Along with many essential functions, it also acts as a neurosteroid that plays a vital role in brain development and functioning. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is globally seen as associated with risk factors resulting in multiorgan dysfunctions and disorders. The need and demand for nutrition increases during pregnancy and lactation, and a lack of it hampers fetal growth. This review aims to investigate the association between maternal vitamin D levels and the neurodevelopmental health of the offspring.
This review utilised articles published in PubMed and Scopus from 2010 onwards, using specific keywords: maternal, vitamin D deficiency, and neurodevelopment. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and non-English literature were excluded. A total of 98 articles were retrieved for the review.
Varying rates of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy were noticed globally based on geography, race, income, and education. The impact of vitamin D deficiency leading to cognitive disorders such as Schizophrenia, specifically found to be associated with a decrease in GABAergic interneurons, was also reported by various authors. Cortical thickening, decreased surface area of the brain, and decreased expression of GAD proteins associated with VDD have also been reported recently.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a host of various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. This necessitates the importance of ensuring adequate maternal vitamin D levels to support offspring's cognitive and psychological well-being, thereby fostering healthier communities.
Vitamin D, Cholecalciferol, Maternal, Nutrition, Neurodevelopmental disorders
