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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

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Association between umbilical cord vitamin D levels and adverse neonatal outcomes

M Treiber1, F Mujezinović1, B Pečovnik Balon2

  • 1University Clinic for Gynaecology and Perinatology, Maribor University Medical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia.

The Journal of International Medical Research
|October 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Low vitamin D in newborns is linked to serious health issues. This deficiency increases the risk of preterm birth, respiratory problems, and hospitalizations in the first year.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and fetal development.
  • Maternal vitamin D status significantly impacts neonatal vitamin D levels.
  • Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent global health concern, particularly in pregnant women and newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and neonatal health outcomes.
  • To investigate the relationship between cord blood 25(OH)D and the risk of infant hospitalization within the first year of life.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective enrollment of 402 mother-infant pairs, categorized by season.
  • Measurement of 25(OH)D serum concentrations in maternal-neonatal pairs at delivery using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
  • Logistic regression analysis to estimate crude odds ratios (cOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

  • Eighteen percent of newborns exhibited severe vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L).
  • Severe cord blood vitamin D deficiency correlated with higher risks of preterm birth (cOR 3.6), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (cOR 5.9), and hospitalization for acute respiratory infection (cOR 3.9) or gastroenterocolitis (cOR 5.2).

Conclusions:

  • Cord blood vitamin D deficiency is a significant risk factor for adverse neonatal outcomes.
  • Low vitamin D levels in newborns are associated with an increased likelihood of preterm birth and respiratory distress.
  • Neonatal vitamin D deficiency is linked to a greater risk of hospitalization during the first year due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Abstract

Keywords:
25-Hydroxyvitamin Dcord bloodgastroenterocolitisneonatal outcomerespiratory infectionvitamin D deficiency

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