The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2013 , Vol 55 , Num 4
Impact of Maternal Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy on Neonatal Vitamin D Status
Departments of 1Pediatrics, and 2Clinical Pathology, Zagazig University Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Zagazig,
Sharkia, Egypt. E-mail: mohamed_197228@hotmail.com
Maternal vitamin D deficiency is not uncommon. The lack of vitamin D during
pregnancy may result in poor fetal growth and altered neonatal development
that may persist into later life. Recognition of risk factors and early detection
of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy are important in order to prevent
neonatal vitamin D deficiency and related complications. The aim of the
current study was to assess the effect of maternal vitamin D status on the
neonatal vitamin D stores. A total of 92 pregnant women at the end of the
3rd trimester and their newborns were recruited from Zagazig University
Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Egypt during the year 2011. Maternal and
cord blood samples were taken at the beginning of the third trimester for
determination of serum levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)
D3) concentration, serum calcium (Ca++), phosphorus (PO4), and alkaline
phosphatase (ALP). Compared with pregnant women with adequate vitamin
D levels, women deficient in vitamin D had infants with vitamin D deficiency
(X±SD 33.44±18.33 nmol/L vs. 55.39±17.37 nmol/L, p=0.01). Maternal and
neonatal serum 25(OH)D3 levels showed a positive correlation with serum
Ca++ and negative correlation with serum PO4 and ALP. Neonatal 25(OH)
D3 was related to maternal third trimester levels (r=0.89, p=0.01). The
newborn serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations are reliant on maternal vitamin D
status, and the poor maternal vitamin D status may adversely affect neonatal
vitamin D status and consequently Ca++ homeostasis.
Keywords :
maternal vitamin D, neonatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, calcium homeostasis.