title: Vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Isfahan, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D deficiency is one of the major health problems and unexpectedly has a high prevalence in sunny countries (e.g. Middle East). In this study we determined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns in Isfahan, a sunny city in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 88 newborns born in Beheshty hospital, affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (August-September, 2005) and their mothers were studied. Their data were collected by questionnaires and blood sampling was done to measure serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, phosphorus, 25 (OH) vitamin D and parathormone (PTH). Vitamin D deficiency defined as levels of 25 (OH) D < 20 and < 12.5 ng/ml for mothers and newborns, respectively and local cut-offs defined as levels in which mean serum PTH started to increase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency according to 25 (OH) D < 20 ng/ml in mothers and < 12.5 ng/ml in newborns was 5.7% and 4.5%, respectively. According to local cut-offs (35 ng/ml for mothers and 26 ng/ml for newborns) 26.1% of mothers and 53.4% of newborns were vitamin D deficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to local definition, vitamin D deficiency is a health problem in pregnant women and their newborns in this sunny city.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Isfahan University of medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemipour
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminorroaya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gheiratmand
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelishadi
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ardestani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nejadnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zolfaghari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol