title: Maternal early pregnancy vitamin D status in relation to fetal and neonatal growth: results of the multi-ethnic Amsterdam Born Children and their Development cohort.
abstract: Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy may account for reduced fetal growth and for altered neonatal development. The present study explored the association between maternal vitamin D status measured early in pregnancy and birth weight, prevalence of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants and postnatal growth (weight and length), as well as the potential role of vitamin D status in explaining ethnic disparities in these outcomes. Data were derived from a large multi-ethnic cohort in The Netherlands (Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) cohort), and included 3730 women with live-born singleton term deliveries. Maternal serum vitamin D was measured during early pregnancy (median 13 weeks, interquartile range: 12-14), and was labelled 'deficient' ( <or= 29.9 nmol/l), 'insufficient' (30-49.9 nmol/l) or 'adequate' ( >or= 50 nmol/l). Six ethnic groups were distinguished: Dutch, Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, other non-Western and other Western. Associations with neonatal outcomes were analysed using multivariate regression analyses. Results showed that compared with women with adequate vitamin D levels, women with deficient vitamin D levels had infants with lower birth weights ( - 114.4 g, 95 % CI - 151.2, - 77.6) and a higher risk of SGA (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.9, 3.2). Neonates born to mothers with a deficient vitamin D status showed accelerated growth in weight and length during the first year of life. Although a deficient vitamin D status influenced birth weight, SGA risk and neonatal growth, it played a limited role in explaining ethnic differences. Although vitamin D supplementation might be beneficial to those at risk of a deficient vitamin D status, more research is needed before a nationwide policy on the subject can be justified.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evelien R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Leffelaar
authors.forename: Tanja G M
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Vrijkotte
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Eijsden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013532:Suriname / Q000208:ethnology; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D