Abstract
It has been suggested that vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy may affect fetal growth (BrMedJ1980;280:751-4).
In the present study we measured crown-heel length of the newborn, and free calcium, phosphorous, calcidiol, calcitriol, osteocalcin and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) in venous cord blood and in serum from 30 Pakistani and 23 Norwegian women just after delivery.
Results: The Pakistani mothers had lower calcidiol levels (mean ± SD) than the Norwegians (p<0,0001); 15,1 +8,6 and 43,1 ±21,3 nmol/l, respectively. There were also lower osteocalcin values in venous cord blood obtained from the Pakistanis (p=0,0005).
None of the Norwegian mothers had intact PTH>5,5 pmol/l, while 43% (13/30) of the Pakistanis had. The crown-heel length of the Pakistani infants in this group were redused (p=0,01) and their mothers had lower free calcium (p=0,003), than the other Pakistani mothers.
Conclusion: Biochemical signs of depressed bone mineralisation were observed in fetuses of Pakistani mothers with vitamin D deficiency. Redused intrauterine growth were observed when the mothers had both vitamin D deficiency and elevated PTH.
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Brunvand, L., Haug, E. OSTEOMALACIA OF THE MOTHER AND INTRAUTERINE GROWTH. Pediatr Res 32, 629 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00144
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00144