BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem. The published literature on vitamin D deficiency is limited among Arab pregnant women and its association with different metabolic markers. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Arab pregnant women and neonates and its association with various biomarker profiles. METHODS: This is a multicenter study taken from a large prospective project in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Maternal biochemical levels were measured routinely. Maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D levels were assessed using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. A total of 1,097 pregnant women >16 years old with gestational ages <24 weeks were recruited from different tertiary hospitals in Riyadh between February 2011 and June 2012. RESULTS: Almost 85% of pregnant subjects had 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/L. Vitamin D deficiency among neonates was 88%. Maternal 25(OH)D was significantly associated with neonatal 25(OH)D (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), as well as serum calcium (r = 0.16, p = 0.02) and phosphate levels (r = 0.17, p = 0.02), and had an inverse correlation with parathyroid hormone (r = -0.22, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Maternal and neonatal vitamin D deficiency is alarmingly high in Arabs and significantly associated with each another. Universal screening for serum 25(OH)D may be appropriate for Arab mothers and vitamin D supplementation mandatory until term. The study puts a spotlight on vitamin D deficiency with the hope that health professionals will address it adequately to prevent the known long-term consequences for metabolism and bone health of both mothers and their children.
BACKGROUND:Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem. The published literature on vitamin D deficiency is limited among Arab pregnant women and its association with different metabolic markers. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Arab pregnant women and neonates and its association with various biomarker profiles. METHODS: This is a multicenter study taken from a large prospective project in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Maternal biochemical levels were measured routinely. Maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D levels were assessed using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. A total of 1,097 pregnant women >16 years old with gestational ages <24 weeks were recruited from different tertiary hospitals in Riyadh between February 2011 and June 2012. RESULTS: Almost 85% of pregnant subjects had 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/L. Vitamin D deficiency among neonates was 88%. Maternal 25(OH)D was significantly associated with neonatal 25(OH)D (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), as well as serum calcium (r = 0.16, p = 0.02) and phosphate levels (r = 0.17, p = 0.02), and had an inverse correlation with parathyroid hormone (r = -0.22, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION:Maternal and neonatal vitamin D deficiency is alarmingly high in Arabs and significantly associated with each another. Universal screening for serum 25(OH)D may be appropriate for Arab mothers and vitamin D supplementation mandatory until term. The study puts a spotlight on vitamin D deficiency with the hope that health professionals will address it adequately to prevent the known long-term consequences for metabolism and bone health of both mothers and their children.
Authors: Orly Levkovitz; Elena Lagerev; Sofia Bauer-Rusak; Ita Litmanovitz; Eynit Grinblatt; Gisela Laura Sirota; Shachar Shalit; Shmuel Arnon Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2022-06-13
Authors: Saleh M Al-Qahtani; Ayed A Shati; Youssef A Alqahtani; Samy A Dawood; Aesha F Siddiqui; Mohamed Samir A Zaki; Shamsun N Khalil Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2022-06-08
Authors: Sara Salman; Mariam Khouzami; Mirvate Harb; Bouchra Saleh; Mohammad O Boushnak; Mohamad K Moussa; Zeina H Mohsen Journal: Cureus Date: 2021-05-07
Authors: Ahmed S Mohammed Metwally; Sobhy M Yakout; Malak N K Khattak; Ghadah Alkhaldi; Nasser M Al-Daghri Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-10 Impact factor: 3.390