Vitamin of deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Egypt

الملخص EN

Background: vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the Middle East region in spite of abundant sunshine.

There are few data about the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Egypt among pregnant mothers and its effect on their newborns.

Aims : our aim in this study was to determine vitamin D status in newborn infants of mothers who are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency because of limited sun exposure. Methods : forty five newborns and their mothers of high risk of vitamin D deficiency were included in the study.

Blood samples were taken.

Maternal and newborns serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D], calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were assayed. Results : the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers was (n=25) 55.6% and in newborns was (n = 5) 11%.

Mean maternal serum 25(OH) vitamin D was (23.7 ± 17.1 ng / ml), while newborns was (28.9 ± 21 ng / ml).

Vitamin D deficiency was more with high birth order compared with first child, (P = 0.01).

Newborns from vitamin D deficient mothers had significant larger anterior fontanels, (P = 0.002), lower calcium levels, (P = 0.03) and higher alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.004).

There was positive correlation between newborns 25 hydroxyvitamin D and calcium levels, (r = 0.225, P = 0.005). Conclusion : we-observed 4jigh prevalence vitamin D deficiency among pregnant mothers and wide anterior fontanels and hypocalcaemia in their newborns.

This should alert physicians to vitamin D deficiency especially in high risk mothers and to signs of congenital rickets in their newborns.