Vitamin D Status in Pregnant Women and their Newborns with Respect to Socioeconomic Status: A Hospital Based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in India is about 70% to 100%. India has a large population of socioeconomically backward people. Pregnant women are considered as a high risk group with global reports citing 20-80% of pregnant women may suffer from vitamin D inadequacy and deficiency. There are evidences suggesting that vitamin D deficient women and vitamin deficient babies are at higher risk of various illnesses. Aim: To study the vitamin D level in maternal and their newborn and to correlate the maternal and newborn vitamin D level with their socioeconomic status. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Government referral Hospital and Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, India for a period of two years. A total of 80 term pregnant women were selected; all pregnant women who were antenatal booked cases either in private or government have received calcium supplements. About 2 mL of maternal blood and cord blood samples were collected during labour. The estimation of vitamin D was done by ELISA kit. The socioeconomic status of the mother were assessed. The data collected were stastically analysed using Student’s paired t-test, chi-square/Fishers test and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 41.2% of the mother and 70% of the newborn, insufficiency in 33.8% of the mothers and 22.5% of the newborn and normal level of vitamin D in 25% of the mother and 7.5% of the baby. There was a positive correlation observed with maternal vitamin D levels and cord blood. Vitamin D deficiency in mother and their newborn of different socioeconomic status found to be statistically significant. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation in the mother had statistical significance on maternal vitamin D status. Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D levels have positive correlation with vitamin D levels of newborn, adequate vitamin D supplements in the mother has a positive correlation with vitamin D levels in both mother and newborn. Lower socioeconomic status of the mother has negative impact on Vitamin D levels of both mother and newborn.