Perinatal vitamin D and calcium status of northern Canadian mothers and their newborn infants.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to examine the vitamin D and calcium status of mothers and their newborns.


METHODS
The intakes of vitamin D and calcium were determined prenatally in 121 women including 33 Caucasians, 51 Inuits, and 37 Native Indians, living in the Inuvik zone of the Northwest Territories. Plasma concentrations of 25-(OH)-D and calcium were also measured in mothers as well as in their offspring at delivery.


RESULTS
The daily mean vitamin D intake of native mothers, including Inuits and Indians, with (8.1+/-5.5 microg) and without supplements (3.4+/-2.5 microg) was significantly lower than that of non-native mothers (13.2+/-5.9 microg and 5.8+/-4.3 microg, respectively). According to the predicted prevalence of low vitamin D intake, there existed a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency without supplementation in both native (88.6% vs 48.4%) and non-native (63.5% vs. 15.1%) mothers. The trend for calcium intakes with and without supplementation was similar to vitamin D intake. At the point of delivery, the plasma levels of 25-(OH)-D were lower in native mothers (50.1 19.3 nmol/L) and their offspring (34.2+/-13.1 nmol/L) than their counterparts (59.8+/-29.4 nmol/L and 41.4+/-23.5 nmol/L, respectively). Its plasma levels in newborn infants averaged only 67% of their mothers. None of these infants showed clinical evidence of vitamin D deficiency. In fact, their plasma calcium levels were significantly higher than their mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma 25-(OH)-D concentrations of 60 to 70% of maternal levels may represent a "normal" range for newborn infants. However, a supplementation in native northern Canadian mothers during pregnancy and in their neonates during infancy may have a role to play in the prevention of vitamin D deficiency.
Waiters
B
B
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Godel
J C
JC
Basu
T K
TK
D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium