Maternal vitamin-D deficiency in Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to assess the vitamin D status of healthy Pakistani nursing mothers and their breastfed infants.


METHODS
Seventy-one nursing mothers and their breastfed infants belonging to upper and lower socio-economic class were examined 6 weeks to 11 months after delivery. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured.


RESULTS
The mean serum 25(OH)D in mothers was 36.7+/-32.4 nmol/L and 41.25+/-35.4 nmol/ L in infants. Thirty-four (48%) mothers and 37 (52%) infants had levels less than 25 nmol/ L. Significantly higher levels were found in uneducated mothers (p=0.01), mothers of lower socio-economic class (p<0.001) and in those living in mud houses (p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D levels of infants under three months of age and their mothers (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in nursing mothers and their infants predominantly in the upper socioeconomic class.
Atiq
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Suria
A
A
Nizami
S Q
SQ
Ahmed
I
I
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*