VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION IN PREGNANT IRANIAN WOMEN: EFFECTS ON MATERNAL AND NEONATAL VITAMIN D AND PARATHYROID HORMONE STATUS

Context. Vitamin D is essential for skeletal and nonskeletal health and prolonged deficiency results in infantile rickets and adult osteomalacia. The aim of this study is to determine 25(011) VitD and iPTH status in pregnancy and to evaluate the effects of monthly 100.000 IU dose of vitamin D supplementation. Materials and Methods. In a double blind trial of vitamin D supplementation in pregnant Iranian women, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 100/00 IU/month) was administered to 25 women and placebo to 25 controls during the last trimester. The two groups had similar distributions of maternal age, height, gravity, weight and age of gestation. Hydroxycholcalciferol and iPTH were measured in mothers at 27 weeks and at delivery. Cord blood was used to assess the same parameters. Results. Comparing the data final maternal 25 - hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in the supplemented group versus control group (61.45 +/- 30 ng/mL versus 29.4 +/- 16 ng/mL); P <= 0.001. Cord 25 - hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly higher in supplementation group in comparison to control group (52 +/- 40.5 ng/mL versus 36 +/- 21.3 ng/mL); P<0.005. Conclusion. Administration of 100/000 IU/monthly of vitamin D3 in the last trimester significantly increased 25(OH) VitD to high normal concentration. However, even with supplementation, only of mother and of newborn had scrum 25(OH) VitD greater than 30 ng/mL a small percentage of women and babies were vitamin D sufficient. According to data of study we propose 100/000 IU monthly is safe for pregnant women.