Association of Maternal Vitamin D levels with Neonatal Birth Weight

Abstract

Objective: To determine Vitamin-D levels of mothers and comparing these levels with birth
weight and head circumference of newborns.
Methods: It was a cross sectional analytical study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics
and Gynaecology, Central Park Medical College, Lahore. A total of 100 pregnant females
admitted for delivery in our hospital and their newborns were included in the study. Maternal blood
sample was collected immediately after delivery for measurement of 25-(OH)-vitamin D level.
Newborns were physically examined and their birth weight and head circumference was recorded
immediately after birth. All the information was recorded on a pre-designed . Newbornsproforma
were categorized into two groups, neonates with birth weight >2500gm and neonates with birth
weight <2500gm. Mothers were categorized according to their Vitamin D status as deficient,
insufficient and sufficient. Maternal Vitamin-D status was correlated with neonatal birth weight.
SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results: Mean maternal vitamin D level was 22.74 ng/ml . Mean gestational age at delivery was
38 weeks and 6 days. 44% of the mothers had vitamin-D deficiency, 36% had vitamin-D
insufficiency, while only a small percentage of 20% had sufficient Vitamin D levels. Mean neonatal
birth weight was 2.99 Kg. 14 % of all the newborns had low birth weight(<2500gm). Mean
maternal Vitamin D level of low birth weight neonates was significantly lower as compared to the
mothers who gave birth to normal weight neonates. Chi square analysis signified the reverse
relationship between maternal Vitamin D status and head circumference of the new born (p-value
<0.001).
Conclusions: Maternal Vitamin D deficiency could have a negative effect on overall neonatal
health outcome by increasing the risk of low birth weight. Awareness programs and Vitamin
supplementation should be introduced in antenatal health care to prevent adverse neonatal
outcomes.