Altered vitamin-D metabolism in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive health
• Nutritional science
• Public health

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a growing concern, particularly among pregnant populations.
• Low 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (25-OHD) levels can have implications for both maternal and fetal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of low plasma-25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (25-OHD) in pregnant women in South London.
• To identify factors associated with reduced vitamin D levels in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving pregnant women in South London.
• Measurement of plasma-25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (25-OHD) levels.
• Comparison with non-pregnant controls.

Main Results:

• 33% of pregnant women studied had low plasma-25-OHD levels (< 16 nmol/l).
• Non-White pregnant women in the last trimester showed significantly lower levels compared to non-pregnant controls (P < 0.02).
• Plasma-25-OHD levels were not correlated with dietary vitamin D intake, age, parity, social class, plasma-calcium, or plasma-albumin.

Conclusions:

• Low plasma-25-OHD is prevalent in pregnant women in South London, particularly Non-White women in late pregnancy.
• Reduced vitamin D may contribute to decreased plasma-calcium during pregnancy.
• Potential causes include enhanced maternal metabolism or increased fetal utilization of vitamin D.