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Plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) have been measured in mothers and their premature infants with neonatal hypocalcemia. In 11 of 15 mother-premature pairs, plasma levels of 25-OHD were remarkably low in both mother and infant. The present data suggest a nutritional basis for the abnormal biochemical findings in these mothers. Secondary vitamin D deficiency in premature infants of these mothers appears to play a significant, but not exclusive, role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. During pregnancy, nutritional vitamin D deficiency may be more common in this population than is currently realized.
John F. Rosen (Fri,) studied this question.