Maternal and cord blood vitamin D status and anthropometric measurements in term newborns at birth

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women may result in reduced neonatal development due to the fact that systemic vitamin D status during fetal life depends on maternal concentrations. Some authors reported significant differences in neonatal anthropometric measurements depending on maternal vitamin D concentrations. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between maternal and cord blood concentrations of vitamin D and neonatal anthropometric measurements at birth. Materials and methods: This study included 94 pregnant women, at term, who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics, Women's Diseases and Gynecological Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw. Total serum 25(OH)D concentration was measured in mother-child pairs, and newborn anthropometric data were collected. A multiple regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Results: No relationship between maternal and neonatal cord blood vitamin D concentrations vs. neonatal weight, length, head, and chest circumference at birth was found (p > 0.05). Severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was detected in 10.6%, deficiency (10-20 ng/ml) in 39.4%, insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml) in 39.4%, and optimal vitamin D concentration (> 30 ng/ml) only in 10.6% of the pregnant women. Cord blood vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) was found in 28.7% of the neonates. Conclusion: No differences between neonatal anthropometric measurements of infants born to mothers with normal and deficient vitamin D concentrations were found.