title: Vitamin D deficiency and placental calcification in low-risk obstetric population: are they related?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the relationship between placental calcification and maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 [25(OH)D] and calcium concentrations in low-risk obstetric population at term and their consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty non-complicated pregnant women at term admitted to maternity clinic were included in this prospective case-control study and classified into one of two groups according to grade of placental calcification by defined the Grannum classification: Group 1 (n=30), with Grade 3 placenta and Group 2 (n=30), the control group, no placental calcification noted. Baseline characteristics, maternal serum and umbilical cord 25(OH)D and calcium levels were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of subjects was 26.4 ± 5.7 years. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of women (n=60) was 9.3 ± 3.4 (range 5.59-15.48) ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D <20 ng/mL] was 100%. Maternal serum and cord blood calcium levels were significantly higher in Group 1 (p=0.036; p=0.037, respectively). In Group 2, maternal serum and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were higher than Group 1 (11.35 ± 6.54 and 10.22 ± 3.59 versus 9.6 ± 4.2 and 9.07 ± 2.43 ng/mL); but the difference is not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher maternal calcium and lower 25(OH)D levels detected in patients with Grade 3 placental calcification indicated the importance of placenta on vitamin D regulation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Care Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Rahime
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedir Findik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Care Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Ali Ozgur
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biochemistry , Ankara Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fidanci
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Care Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Afyonkarahisar Zubeyde Hanım Hospital , Afyonkarahisar , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Yeksin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Helvacioglu
authors.affiliation: d Department of Biostatistics , Hacettepe University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Jale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karakaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Calcium; placental calcification; pregnancy; vitamin D