The effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and maternal vitamin D levels on neonatal vitamin D levels and birth parameters

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to measure the levels of vitamin 25(OH)D in pregnant women and in the umbilical cord blood of newborns and to evaluate the association of vitamin D levels with birth parameters.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytic investigation was performed in 100 pregnant women at term and in 100 newborns born to these mothers. Plasma vitamin D level was measured and birth parameters of the babies were recorded.

Results: Mean vitamin D levels in pregnant women and cord blood were 11.39 ± 6.24 ng/ml and 8.00 ± 4.95 ng/ml, respectively. Vitamin D levels were found to be higher in the women who had received vitamin D support during pregnancy (p < .001). Height (p = .004), head circumference (p = .003), and chest circumference (p = .005) of newborns born to mothers who had received vitamin D support were higher compared to non-receivers. Maternal vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) and insufficiency (10–30 ng/ml) was detected in 53.0% and 47.0% of the cases, respectively. None of the women had sufficient levels of vitamin D.

Conclusions: This study established that vitamin D levels were low in maternal and cord blood in spite of the administration program of Ministry of Health in pregnant women. The importance of vitamin D supplementation should be explained to the pregnant women in each visit.

Keywords:

• Vitamin D
• pregnant women
• newborn
• umbilical cord blood
• birth sizes

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Coordination Center (BAP) for the financial support to this study. We also thank all the participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Coordination Center (BAP) [grant number:131518020] for the financial support to this study.