Vitamin D status in a neonate–mother pair attending Alexandria University Children’s Hospital during the first week of life

Abstract

Background Vitamin D deficiency and rickets continue to be a public health problem despite abundant sunshine throughout the year. The cause of rickets in Egyptian children is still unclear and needs to be investigated. Aim The current study was designed to evaluate vitamin D status in neonates and their mothers in the first week of life. Participants and methods Serum 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium profile were analyzed in a hundred neonate–mother pairs attending the Neonatology Clinic in Alexandria University Children’s Hospital, Egypt, during the first week of life. Maternal history was assessed, focusing on maternal risk factors favoring vitamin D deficiency, maternal medical condition, and physical examination of the neonates. Results A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and their neonates in the first week of life was recorded (47 and 86%, respectively), the magnitude of which warrants public health intervention. There was a significant relation between serum vitamin D status of the mother and her newborn, with a positive correlation between vitamin D levels in the serum of both (r=0.813, P Conclusion Inadequate sunlight exposure, frequent previous pregnancies, and low socioeconomic standards seem to be the most important contributing factors for vitamin D deficiency of both mother and neonate. Vitamin D supplementation for the pregnant mother and her newborn soon after birth is recommended.