Vitamin D Status among Egyptian Mothers and Their Neonates: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Background/Objective: The potential impact of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has attracted much interest in recent years. This study was an exploratory one aimed to assess vitamin D status among a small random sample of Egyptian pregnant women and their newborns, and to evaluate its effect on pregnancy outcome. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 45 mothers and their newborns. Venous blood obtained from the mothers and from the cord blood to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), human Parathormone (hPTH) and serum calcium and phosphorus. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the examined pregnant mothers was 37.78%. Based on umbilical cord 25(OH)D concentration 31.11% of newborns were categorized as having deficient vitamin D status. The maternal serum 25(OH) D was significantly positive correlated with the cord blood 25(OH)D (r=0.719, P=0.019). Newborns 25(OH) D was lower compared to their mothers but this difference was insignificant, the parathormone cord blood level was significantly lower compared to the maternal serum parathormone level (P<0.05). Maternal serum calcium and phosphorus showed no significant difference compared to cord blood levels. There was no significant effect of maternal vitamin D on the newborn's birth weight or length. The newborns head circumference was significantly negative correlated with the maternal serum 25(OH) D (r=-0.587, P=0.035). Conclusion: In this preliminary study a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among studied mothers and their newborns was recorded; the magnitude of which warrants the need for large multiple studies in different Egyptian districts. In this study, neonatal 25(OH) D concentrations were strongly positively correlated to maternal 25(OH) D levels with neonatal head circumference was the most affected anthropometric parameter.