Maternal calcium metabolic stress and fetal growth.
BACKGROUND
Suboptimal maternal calcium intake and vitamin D status may or may not adversely influence fetal growth.


OBJECTIVE
It was hypothesized that maternal calcium metabolic stress in early pregnancy, rather than suboptimal calcium intake or insufficient vitamin D, influences the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births and other aspects of fetal growth. Stress to calcium metabolism was defined as elevated intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) (>62 pg/mL) accompanied by a very low calcium intake [<60% of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)] or insufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] (<20 ng/mL).


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study of 1116 low-income and minority gravidae at entry to care of 13.8 ± 5.6 wk (mean ± SD).


RESULTS
The PTH concentration depended on circulating 25(OH)D and total calcium intake. When 25(OH)D was insufficient, even a high calcium intake (which equaled or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowance) was unable to maintain PTH or to moderate the proportion of patients with an elevated PTH. When examined one at a time, very low calcium intake (<60% of EAR), very low 25(OH)D (<12 ng/mL), and elevated PTH (>62 pg/mL) each had a small but significant association with birth weight. Elevated PTH was also related to birth length and risk of SGA birth. Elevated PTH accompanied by insufficient 25(OH)D or very low calcium intake was associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of SGA birth and a significantly lower birth weight, birth length, and head circumference, even after women who developed preeclampsia were excluded. Infants born to gravidae with insufficient 25(OH)D or very low calcium intake without elevated PTH or with elevated PTH alone were unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal calcium metabolic stress, rather than low calcium intake or insufficient vitamin D, has an adverse influence on fetal growth. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NIH 0320070046.
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (TOS and XC) and Surgery (TPS), Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ 08084.
Theresa O
TO
Scholl
Xinhua
X
Chen
T Peter
TP
Stein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
C470125:PTH protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium