Maternal vitamin D status throughout and after pregnancy.

J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010 Feb;30(2):137-42.

Narchi H, Kochiyil J, Zayed R, Abdulrazzak W, Agarwal M.

Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. hassib.narchi@uaeu.ac.ae

Prospective longitudinal study of vitamin D status and its risk factors in 75 pregnant women from early pregnancy until 6 months postpartum, by serial measurement of serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels.

The serum levels at booking were not significantly different between

nationalities (p = 0.06), parity (p = 0.2),

education levels (p = 0.4),

dress code (p > 0.5),

consumption of vitamin D fortified milk (p = 0.2) or,

fatty fish (p = 0.5),

sun-exposed body surface area (p = 0.3),

weekly time exposed to the sun (p = 0.08) or the sun exposure index (p = 0.2).

Vitamin D status progressively worsened as the proportion with adequate serum levels fell from 31% at the antenatal visit, to

23% after birth and

17%, 6 months later (p = 0.02).

While 80% of mothers who were exclusively breast-feeding had low vitamin D levels 6 months after delivery, this occurred in only 67% of those partially breast-feeding (p = 0.6). PMID: 20143971