title: First trimester serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, free β-human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A in Spanish women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D has been implicated in embryo/placental development and growth; however information in this regard is limited or unavailable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) status during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum 25(OH)D, β-hCG, and PAPP-A levels were measured in the first trimester of otherwise healthy Spanish pregnant women (n=488). Rho Spearman coefficients were calculated to determine correlations between analytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median serum 25(OH)D levels for the entire sample was 27.4 ng/ml (interquartile range=12.1). 25(OH)D levels were insufficient (20-29.99 ng/ml) and deficient (<20 ng/ml) in 40.6% and 23.2%, respectively, in relation to ethnics, body mass index values, tobacco use, and season/gestational age at blood sampling. β-hCG and PAPP-A levels significantly correlated (r²=0.47) yet neither of them with 25(OH)D levels. Despite this, the three analytes significantly correlated with gestational age at sampling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First trimester 25(OH)D, β-hCG, and PAPP-A levels increase with gestational age; however, placental peptides do not correlate with vitamin D levels, suggesting a non-placental 25(OH)D production. More research is required in this regard.
authors.affiliation: The Spanish Vitamin D and Women's Health Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Alonso
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Valdera-Simbrón
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiol-Ruiz
authors.forename: Firma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chedraui
authors.forename: Faustino R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013030:Spain; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A