High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani mothers and their newborns

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani parturients and their newborns and to assess the correlation between maternal and newborn serum levels of the vitamin D metabolite 25-hydroxy vitamin D3. METHODS: A prospective study of parturients presenting to the labor suite with a singleton pregnancy. Maternal and cord blood were collected for estimation of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3. RESULTS: In total, 89% of the gravidae were deficient in vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 <30 ng/mL). There was a positive correlation between maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels(r = 0.68; P < 0.001). Inverse correlations were noted between cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 and a longer duration of gestation (r = -0.33; P = 0.003) and with the newborn's birth weight (r = -0.23; P = 0.048). Maternal 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels were inversely correlated with maternal mean arterial pressure (r = 0.029; P < 0.020). CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Pakistani parturients and their newborns. There was a correlation between higher maternal vitamin D levels and lower blood pressure in the mothers.