High prevalence of vitamin D and calcium deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Chengdu, China.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D and calcium deficiency is common in pregnant women and newborn infants. There are few data about the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy and infancy in China. We assessed vitamin D status of pregnant women and their neonates in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China.


METHODS
Maternal serum and cord blood levels of calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in 77 urban and rural mother-neonate pairs at term.


RESULTS
The mean level of maternal serum 25(OH)D was 35.95+/-19.7 nmol/L, and that of cord blood 25(OH)D was 40.98+/-18.89 nmol/L. The intake of calcium and vitamin D was uniformly low, although it was higher in urban (1010+/-450 mg/d, 237+/-169 IU/d) than in rural (320+/-210 mg/d, 62+/-66 IU/d) women. Maternal serum 25(OH)D was correlated positively with cord blood 25(OH)D (r=0.94, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of vitamin D and calcium insufficiency in pregnant women and neonates in Chengdu even when mothers are compliant with prenatal vitamin supplementation. Supplementation is needed to improve maternal and neonatal vitamin D and calcium nutrition.
Wang
Jing
J
Department of Pediatrics, West China 2nd University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang
Fan
F
Mao
Meng
M
Liu
Dan-Hong
DH
Yang
Hui-Ming
HM
Yang
Su-Fei
SF
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium