There are clinical reports of maternal vitamin D deficiency causing impaired fetal growth & mineralisation and neonatal hypocalcemia. We measured propeptide of type 1 procollagen (PICP), a marker of bone formation, and telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), a marker of bone resorption in maternal and cord blood samples collected from 11 white and 11 British Asian subjects in Oct and Nov. PICP/ICTP was used as ratio of bone formation to resorption. No subjects received vitamin D supplements. There were no differences in the gestation period, infant birth weight, head circumference, or maternal or cord Ca between race groups. Asian mothers have low serum 25(OH) vitD (marker of D status), increased PTH and low PICP/ICTP ratio(indicating decreased bone formation relative to resorption) compared to whites. In this group, normal fetal calcium levels & the balance between bone resorption and formation appear to be maintained. (**p≤.01, *p≤.05) Table

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