Hemodynamic correlates of low umbilical cord vitamin D and ionized calcium

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcemia are associated with gestational hypertension. Therefore, we hypothesized that umbilical cord [Ca²⁺] and [vitamin D] are correlated with perinatal blood pressures. Mothers and newborns comprised vitamin D sufficient (vitamin D ≥50 nM, range 52–111 nM, n = 14), and vitamin D deficient groups (vitamin D <50 nM, range 13–49 nM, n = 29). Cord [Ca²⁺] was negatively correlated with maternal systolic pressure (SBP) (r = –0.56, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with neonatal SBP (r = +0.55, p < 0.01) in the vitamin D deficient group. We conclude that low umbilical cord [vitamin D] and [Ca²⁺] may predispose mothers to higher and newborns to lower blood pressures.

• Blood pressure
• ionized calcium
• neonatology
• pregnancy
• umbilical cord blood
• vitamin D