The level of vitamin D in the first trimester of pregnancy and its effect on the anthropometric parameters of а newborn

Abstract

Background. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency appears to be increasing worldwide. Pregnant women are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D status has a great impact on both pregnancy and the fetus. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate serum vitamin D level during the first trimester of pregnancy and its effect on the neonatal anthropometric measures. Material and methods. A prospective study among 71 pregnant women aged 19 to 42 years in the first trimester was carried out between October 2018 to April 2020. A survey of pregnant women (socio-demographic characteristics, anamnestic data and diet) was conducted, and the maternal serum total vitamin D level was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Neonatal anthropometric parameters (weight, body length, weight/length ratio) were measured. Results. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 41 (57.7 %) of pregnant women, insufficiency in 7 (9.9 %), and the optimal level in 23 (32.4 %) of examined women. Women with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have a history of miscarriage than those with optimal D status (odds ratio 9.06, 95% confidence interval 1.11–73.86, Р = 0.0396). We have not found the influence of other factors (age, social status, body mass index, number of pregnancies) on the maternal vitamin D level. There were no significant differences between indicators of weight by age, body length of a child by age, and Apgar scores depending on the vitamin D levels of pregnant women. Conclusions. The study showed that the optimal vitamin D level is observed only in 32.4 % of cases, and its deficiency or insufficiency occurs in 67.6 % of pregnant women in the first trimester. The study did not reveal the correlation between maternal vitamin D level during the first trimester of pregnancy and neonatal anthropometric measures. Given the trend towards lower weight/length ratio to gestational age of the newborns from mothers with vitamin D deficiency, further studies are needed.