Vitamin D deficiency in mothers, neonates and children.
Vitamin D is produced in response to the exposure of skin to sunlight through UV-B synthesis. It can also be obtained from diet and dietary supplements. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones as it helps to absorb calcium from diet. Vitamin D deficiency mainly occurs if strict vegetarian diet is followed as mostly the source of vitamin D is animal based; therefore, exposure to sunlight is restricted or having dark skin color. Low vitamin D levels results in increased possibility of gestational diabetes among pregnant women, low birth weight and pre-eclampsia in infants, and mothers may suffer bone impairment, osteoporosis, hypocalcaemia, and hypertension. Vitamin D deficiency is directly linked with severe complication in mothers and neonates, causing rickets, poor fetal growth and infantile eczema in neonates. Higher prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency has led professionals to emphasize on development of relevant precautionary measures.
Department of Applied Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates.
Deena H
DH
Elsori
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. Electronic address: m.hammoud@hsc.edu.kw.
Majeda S
MS
Hammoud
D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
Deficiency; Hypocalcaemia; Osteoporosis; Sunlight; Vitamin D