Vitamin D deficiency in Iranian mothers and their neonates: a pilot study

We conducted a pilot study to assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among Iranian women and their newborns. Blood samples were taken from 50 mothers (age 16-40 yr) and their neonates at term delivery in the largest Tehran hospital. The results showed that 80% of the women had 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations of less than 25 nmol/l. Mean maternal plasma calcium and phosphatase alkaline concentrations were in the normal range. The mean maternal serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration of women with hypovitaminosis D (i.e., 25-OHD levels < 25 nmol/l) was above normal range and significantly different from that of women without hypovitaminosis D. Conclusion: The mean cord serum 25-OHD concentration was very low (4.94 +/- 9.4 nmol/l) and that of infants of mother with hypovitaminosis D were almost undetectable (1.2 +/- 1.2 nmol/l).