Maternal vitamin-D deficiency in Pakistan
Atiq, M.; Suria, A.; Nizami, S.Q.; Ahmed, I.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 77(10): 970-973
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6349 PMID: 9849839 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0412.1998.771004.xDocument Number: 531734
This study was performed to assess the vitamin D status of healthy Pakistani nursing mothers and their breastfed infants. Seventy-one nursing mothers and their breastfed infants belonging to upper and lower socio-economic class were examined 6 weeks to 11 months after delivery. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured. The mean serum 25(OH)D in mothers was 36.7+/-32.4 nmol/L and 41.25+/-35.4 nmol/ L in infants. Thirty-four (48%) mothers and 37 (52%) infants had levels less than 25 nmol/ L. Significantly higher levels were found in uneducated mothers (p=0.01), mothers of lower socio-economic class (p<0.001) and in those living in mud houses (p<0.001). A significant correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D levels of infants under three months of age and their mothers (p<0.01). High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in nursing mothers and their infants predominantly in the upper socioeconomic class.