Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Maternal vitamin-D deficiency in Pakistan
1Department of Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective Of The Study:
This study was performed to assess the vitamin D status of healthy Pakistani nursing mothers and their breastfed infants.
Methods:
Seventy-one nursing mothers and their breastfed infants belonging to upper and lower socio-economic class were examined 6 weeks to 11 months after delivery. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured.
Results:
The mean serum 25(OH)D in mothers was 36.7+/-32.4 nmol/L and 41.25+/-35.4 nmol/ L in infants. Thirty-four (48%) mothers and 37 (52%) infants had levels less than 25 nmol/ L. Significantly higher levels were found in uneducated mothers (p=0.01), mothers of lower socio-economic class (p<0.001) and in those living in mud houses (p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D levels of infants under three months of age and their mothers (p<0.01).
Conclusions:
High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in nursing mothers and their infants predominantly in the upper socioeconomic class.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Teratogenicity
Vitamins
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...

