Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns as seen at a tertiary-care center in Karachi, Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan; correlate maternal and cord blood vitamin D deficiency; and assess possible predictors of vitamin D deficiency.


METHODS
This observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 consecutive women in labor presenting with a singleton term pregnancy at a large tertiary center in Karachi. Data were recorded on a special form, maternal blood was taken before delivery and cord blood was taken at delivery. All blood samples were analyzed for 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Comparisons were made using the Χ(2) test.


RESULTS
The mean vitamin D levels were 24 ng/mL for the participants and 20 ng/mL for the newborns. Vitamin D sufficiency was noted in 11 (22%), insufficiency in 16 (32%), and deficiency in 23 (46%) of the 50 participants whereas sufficiency and deficiency, respectively, were noted in 6 (12%) and 44 (88%) of the newborns. There was a positive correlation between the vitamin D levels in maternal and cord blood (r=0.03; P<0.003). Maternal vitamin D levels were significantly affected by sunlight exposure (P<0.007) and quality of diet P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D deficiency is high among pregnant urban Pakistani women and their newborns. This public health problem needs urgent attention.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit 1, Karachi Medical & Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. saadiya.aziz@gmail.com
Saadiya A
SA
Karim
Uzma
U
Nusrat
Sina
S
Aziz
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D