High Prevalence of Maternal Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency Is Not Associated With Poor Birth Outcomes Among Healthy White Women in the Pacific Northwest

Objective

To quantify vitamin D status among pregnant women in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA) and examine pregnancy and newborn outcomes in relationship to maternal serum blood samples obtained during pregnancy.

Vitamin D Status in Mothers and Their Newborns and Its Association with Pregnancy Outcomes: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Northern India

Objective

Study was planned to know vitamin D status in mothers and their newborns and effect of vitamin D deficiency on pregnancy outcome. Study design: Two hundred consecutive pregnant women with singleton pregnancy admitted to the labor ward of a tertiary care center were recruited for the study. Maternal and cord blood samples were taken and analyzed for 25(OH) D level. Maternal and fetal outcomes were studied.

Results

High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was found among pregnant women. Eighty-six percentage had vitamin D deficiency, 9.5% had insufficiency, and only 4.5% had sufficient vitamin D level. Women with preeclampsia had statistically significant vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as compared to patients who had normal blood pressure levels (p = 0.04). Cesarean section rate was significantly higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency compared to sufficient group (p = 0.004). Cord blood 25(OH) D levels strongly correlated with maternal serum 25 (OH) D levels (p = 0.001, correlation coefficient r = 0.84).

Conclusions

This study showed a very high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among pregnant women and excellent correlation between maternal and fetal 25(OH) D levels. Hypovitaminosis D was associated with preeclampsia, increased Cesarean rate, and low birth weight babies.

     

Severe vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Turkey

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is an important health problem in pregnant women and their infants in sunny countries. Low socio-economic status (LSES), covered dressing style, pregnancies in winter season and having dark skin are the major risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. The present study evaluated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] concentrations in pregnant women and in their newborns and determined the risk factors in LSES cities in Turkey.

Methods: Ninety-seven pregnant women and their newborns were included in the study between December 2012 and February 2013. All of the pregnant women had irregular follow-up or had received no antenatal care, were pregnant during summer, had presented to the hospital after 37 weeks of gestation (WG) and had received no vitamin D supplementation. A detailed history was obtained, which included mothers’ age, number of births and dressing sytle. Maternal and cord blood samples were taken to measure 25(OH)D3 levels.

Results: All of the pregnant women were predominantly LSES, had covered dressing style and none of them had received vit D3 supplementation during pregnancy. The mean serum 25(OH)D3 level and mean cord blood level of of 97 mothers were 4.97?±?3.27?ng/ml and 4.29?±?2.44?ng/ml, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord 25(OH)D3 levels (r: 0.735, p?<?0.05). Ninety-five mothers had serum 25(OH)D3 below 20?ng/ml and all cord blood serum 25(OH)D3 levels were below 20?ng/ml. Level of 25(OH)D3 was not correlated with mother age, WG or newborn weight. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations in primigravida and multigravida were 3.71?±?1.88 and 5.2?±?3.4?ng/ml, respectively, with a significant difference between them (p?<?0.05).

Conclusion: Severe vitamin D deficiency is common in reproductive women and their newborns in LSES cities of Turkey. Covered dressing style, not receiving any vitamin D supplementation and primigravida women are at greatest risk. Vitamin D supplementation campaigns which should cover pregnant women and the newborn to prevent maternal and perinatal vitamin D deficiency should be implemented especially in risk areas.     

Dietary assessment of maternal vitamin D intake and correlation with maternal and neonatal serum vitamin D concentrations at delivery

Maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations are positively and significantly correlated. If an easily obtainable maternal dietary history could be used to predict maternal and secondarily cord blood vitamin D status, it would be a useful means of assessing the vitamin D adequacy of the newborn. Therefore, a single assessment of maternal dietary vitamin D intake during the last trimester of pregnancy was correlated with maternal and newborn serum vitamin D concentration. Neither the correlation between maternal dietary history of vitamin D intake and maternal serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level nor between maternal dietary history and cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was significant. These data indicate that a single maternal dietary history is an inadequate method of predicting neonatal vitamin status at delivery.     

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani mothers and their newborns

Objective

To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Pakistani parturients and their newborns and to assess the correlation between maternal and newborn serum levels of the vitamin D metabolite 25-hydroxy vitamin D3.

Methods

A prospective study of parturients presenting to the labor suite with a singleton pregnancy. Maternal and cord blood were collected for estimation of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3.

Results

In total, 89% of the gravidae were deficient in vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 < 30 ng/mL). There was a positive correlation between maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels(r = 0.68; P < 0.001). Inverse correlations were noted between cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 and a longer duration of gestation (r = − 0.33; P = 0.003) and with the newborn's birth weight (r = − 0.23; P = 0.048). Maternal 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels were inversely correlated with maternal mean arterial pressure (r = 0.029; P < 0.020).

Conclusion

There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the Pakistani parturients and their newborns. There was a correlation between higher maternal vitamin D levels and lower blood pressure in the mothers.     

Maternal serum vitamin D and parathormone concentrations during gestation and in umbilical cord blood – pilot study

Objective: We wanted to define levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D), parathormone (PTH), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and the correlations between them during gestation as well as in umbilical cord blood.

Methods: The study included 37 healthy singleton pregnant women in the course of gestation with no medical history concerning systemic diseases, nor with negative obstetrics and gynecological history. Biochemical parameters were determined using commercially available kits.

Results: In the studied group, there were no significant differences in serum vitamin D, PTH, Ca and P concentrations in each trimester and during delivery. The negative significant association between serum 25(OH)D and PTH level was observed (r=?0.25; pppr=?0.74; p?Conclusion: The study showed that regardless of the supplementation only 11–21% of studied pregnant women had optimal levels of vitamin D. The association between maternal and cord blood 25(OH)D suggested that inadequate vitamin D stores- during pregnancy may lead to a deficiency of this vitamin in newborns.     

Relationship between pregnancy outcomes and maternal vitamin D and calcium intake: A cross-sectional study

Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.     

Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy: a controlled trial of two methods

A randomized study was conducted to evaluate the effects of single-dose and daily vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women during the last trimester of a winter pregnancy in the Northwest of France. The women were divided into three randomized groups: one (N = 21) was given a vitamin D2 supplement of 1000 IU/day during the last three months of pregnancy, one (N = 27) was given a single oral dose of 5 mg at the seventh month of pregnancy, and one (N = 29) acted as a control. Venous plasma samples were obtained at delivery from the women and from cord blood, and levels of calcium, 25-OHD, and 1,25(OH)2D were determined. No significant difference in plasma calcium concentration was found among the three groups, but within each group plasma calcium concentrations were higher in the cord samples than in the respective maternal samples. The levels of the two metabolites measured were consistently lower in the cord samples than in the respective maternal samples. Cord 25-OHD concentrations correlated with those of maternal plasma. No significant modification of maternal calciuria or of the birth weight of term infants was observed. 25-OHD concentrations were greater in maternal and cord plasma from treated mothers, but only a slight difference was observed between the supplemented groups. 1,25(OH)2D concentrations were not significantly different in the three groups. A single 5-mg dose of vitamin D given orally at the seventh month of pregnancy provides effective prophylaxis in the authors' region.     

Anticonvulsant drug therapy in human pregnancy: effects on serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites in maternal and cord blood

Serum concentrations of the main vitamin D metabolites and of calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase were determined in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy and in simultaneously obtained maternal and cord blood at delivery in 22 epileptic women treated with diphenylhydantoin or carbamazepine alone or with a combination with one other drug. The results were compared with similarly obtained data from 22 normal pregnancies. Women in both groups received supplements of 400 IU vitamin D3 per day. All the women had 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels within the normal range for healthy adults (greater than 12 ng/ml) throughout pregnancy. The epileptic women had, however, significantly (p less than 0.05) lower median 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels and higher median 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D values than the reference group. The 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations did not differ significantly, but the median ratio of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D was higher in the epileptic women at the end of pregnancy (p = 0.05). The respective differences in cord serum concentrations reflected those of the mothers at delivery. Serum calcium tended to be lower during epileptic pregnancy, but none were hypocalcemic. The alkaline phosphatase and phosphate values did not consistently differ from those of the reference women. The median alkaline phosphatase level of cord serum was slightly higher in the epileptic group, but the calcium and phosphate levels were similar to the reference values. The various biochemical parameters of the carbamazepine-treated women tended to be intermediate between those of the healthy and diphenylhydantoin-treated groups. Antiepileptic drug therapy appears to affect vitamin D metabolism and calcium homeostasis during pregnancy. The derangements may not be of major clinical significance, however, in vitamin D-supplemented and normally functioning women on long-term low-dose therapy.     

Association between vitamin D deficiency and antepartum and postpartum depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Purpose

The two previous reviews performed on the association of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy with antepartum and postpartum depression were limited in reporting forms as they were both systematic reviews and the conclusions were also deemed to be inconclusive. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and depression during and after pregnancy as well as their numerous hazards to pregnancy outcomes, it is of great need to synthesize existing evidence in a more accurate statistical method, so that reliable guidance related to vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy could be provided for clinical decision making.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association of vitamin D deficiency with antepartum and postpartum depression.

Results

Nine longitudinal studies with 8470 participants were included in the meta-analysis. We found serum 25(OH)D levels?<?50 nmol/l was associated with 2.67 times (OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.72–7.85) increased risk of postpartum depression than those 25(OH)D levels?≥?50 nmol/l, but we did not find a significant association between low vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms during pregnancy with a serum 25(OH)D cut-off level of 30 nmol/l (OR 1.47; 95% CI 0.92–2.36).

Conclusions

The low status of maternal vitamin D could be an adverse factor for postpartum depression, but the available evidence suggested no association between vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. However, this result should be interpreted with caution owning to the small number of studies. Well-designed intervention studies are also needed to further evaluate the benefits of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy.

     

Relationship between pregnancy outcomes and maternal vitamin D and calcium intake: A cross-sectional study.

Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.     

Drug-prescribing patterns during pregnancy in the tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan: a cross sectional study

Background

Low birth weight (LBW) is considered as a major multifaceted public health concern. Seventy-two percent of LBW infants are born in Asia. An estimation of 8% LBW infants has been reported for Eastern Mediterranean region including Iran. This study investigated contributory factors of LBW in singleton term births in Tehran, Iran. Tehran is a multicultural metropolitan area and a sample from the general population in Tehran could be regarded as a representative sample of urban population in Iran.

Methods

This was a retrospective study using data from 15 university maternity hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Data on all singleton term births in these hospitals were extracted from case records during a one calendar year. Study variables included: maternal age, maternal educational level, history of LBW deliveries, history of preterm labor, cigarette smoking during pregnancy, number of parities, chronic diseases and residential area (Tehran versus suburbs of Tehran). In order to examine the relationship between LBW and demographic and reproductive variables the adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results

In all, data for 3734 term pregnancies were extracted. The mean age of women was 25.7 (SD = 5.3) years and 5.2% of term births were LBW. In addition to association between LBW and maternal age, significant risk factors for LBW were: history of LBW deliveries [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–6.03], smoking during pregnancy (OR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.97–10.95) and chronic diseases (OR for hypertension = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.25–6.06, OR for others = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.09–3.83).

Conclusion

The findings indicate that in addition to maternal age, history of LBW deliveries; smoking during pregnancy and chronic diseases are significant determinants of LBW in this population. This is consistent with national and international findings indicating that maternal variables and risk behaviors during pregnancy play important roles on LBW.     

新生儿及其母亲骨营养状况的研究

目的 通过对产妇及其新生儿在分娩当天进行血25-(OH)D3、血钙和血磷浓度的测定以及在产后3 d内采用骨定量超声仪对母儿进行骨超声波速度(speed of sound,SOS)的测量来评价母儿的骨营养状况和两者的相关性.方法 32例足月分娩产妇在分娩当天测定血清25-(OH)D3、血钙和血磷浓度,对其分娩的新生儿在出生时留取脐血进行血25-(OH)D3、血钙和血磷浓度的测定.产妇在分娩后3 d内进行桡骨定量超声SOS值的测量,同时对新生儿也进行胫骨SOS值的测量.分析母儿骨SOS值之间的相关性.选取与本实验组孕妇同年龄段健康妇女39例作为对照组,进行桡骨SOS值的测量,比较产妇组与正常妇女组骨SOS值之间有无差异.结果 (1)新生儿脐血中25-(OH)D3的浓度(14.7±7.8)nmol/L平均为孕妇血25-(OH)D3浓度(30.3±10.2)nmol/L的37.3%,两者之间呈正相关(r=0.680,P=0.000);(2)新生儿脐血的血钙浓度(2.36±0.28)mmol/L和血磷浓度(1.57±0.76)mmol/L与孕妇的血钙(2.09±0.17)mmol/L和血磷浓度(1.04±0.28)mmol/L之间无相关性(r=0.146,P=0.467;r=0.148,P=0.445),新生儿脐血中的血钙浓度和血磷浓度显著高于其母血中的血钙和血磷浓度(t=4.35,P=0.000;t=10.58,P=0.000);(3)新生儿骨SOS值(3054±76)m/s与其母亲的骨SOS值(4170±241)m/s之间无相关性(r=-0.223,P=0.220);(4)新生儿脐血25-(OH)D3的浓度与其骨SOS值有显著相关(r=0.412,P=0.026);(5)正常妇女的骨SOS值(4258±100)m/s高于产妇组的骨SOS值(4170±241)m/s,两组比较差异有统计学意义(t=2.062,P=0.043).结论 胎儿维生素D的营养状况与母体维生素D的营养状况密切相关,维生素D的营养状况与胎儿的骨骼发育密切相关.上海地区在秋冬季有较多孕妇可能有维生素D缺乏,应加强对孕产妇骨营养状况的监测.     

Metabolic Syndrome features and risk of neural tube defects

Background

Maternal obesity and pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus, features of the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), are individual risk factors for neural tube defects (NTD). Whether they, in combination with additional features of MetSyn, alter this risk is not known. We evaluated the risk of NTD in association with maternal features of the MetSyn.

Methods

We used a population-based case-control study design in the province of Ontario, Canada. Cases and controls were derived from women who underwent antenatal maternal screening (MSS) at 15 to 20 weeks' gestation. There were 89 maternal cases with, and 434 controls without, an NTD-affected singleton pregnancy. Maternal features of MetSyn were defined by the presence of pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus, body weight ≥ 90th centile among controls, non-white ethnicity and/or serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥ 75th centile of controls. Since hsCRP naturally increases in pregnancy, analyses were performed with, and without, the inclusion of hsCRP in the model.

Results

Mean hsCRP concentrations were exceptionally high among study cases and controls (6.1 and 6.4 mg/L, respectively). When hsCRP was excluded from the model, the adjusted odds ratios for NTD were 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.1–3.4) in the presence 1 feature of MetSyn, and 6.1 (1.1–32.9) in the presence of 2 or more features. When hsCRP was included, the respective risk estimates were attenuated to 1.6 (0.88–2.8) and 3.1 (1.2–8.3).

Conclusion

We found about 2-fold and 6-fold higher risk for NTD in the presence 1, and 2 or more features, of the metabolic syndrome, respectively. It is not clear whether this risk is altered by the presence of a high serum hsCRP concentration.     

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant mothers in Tehran and investigating its association with serum glucose and insulin

Purpose: (1) To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women. (2) To identify any correlations between maternal vitamin D levels and maternal and newborns’ glucose and insulin levels.

Methods: This observational cohort study followed 149 healthy pregnant women visiting a hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2014 until the delivery of their term babies. Maternal serum vitamin D levels, and fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in both mothers and newborns were measured at delivery. Mothers’ weight before pregnancy and right before delivery and babies’ birth weight were measured.

Results: Of sample population, 27% had vitamin D deficiency, while 73% had insufficient vitamin D. No mother had sufficient vitamin D level. Maternal weight right before delivery negatively correlated with maternal serum vitamin D level (p?=?.04). Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in mothers who deliver a male infant (p?=?.03). Maternal serum vitamin D levels did not correlate with maternal or neonatal serum glucose or insulin levels or newborns’ birth weight. Gestational age, maternal weight right before delivery, parity and maternal serum glucose predict infant’s birth weight.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is prevalent among pregnant women. Factors causing this epidemic need investigation. Promoting consumption of vitamin D-fortified foods and supplements among pregnant women is suggested.     

Vitamin D deficiency and placental calcification in low-risk obstetric population: are they related?

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between placental calcification and maternal and cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin-D₃ [25(OH)D] and calcium concentrations in low-risk obstetric population at term and their consequences.

Methods: Sixty non-complicated pregnant women at term admitted to maternity clinic were included in this prospective case-control study and classified into one of two groups according to grade of placental calcification by defined the Grannum classification: Group 1 (n=30), with Grade 3 placenta and Group 2 (n=30), the control group, no placental calcification noted. Baseline characteristics, maternal serum and umbilical cord 25(OH)D and calcium levels were compared between groups.

Results: The mean age of subjects was 26.4?±?5.7 years. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of women (n=60) was 9.3?±?3.4 (range 5.59–15.48) ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D?<20 ng/mL] was 100%. Maternal serum and cord blood calcium levels were significantly higher in Group 1 (p=0.036; p=0.037, respectively). In Group 2, maternal serum and cord blood 25(OH)D levels were higher than Group 1 (11.35?±?6.54 and 10.22?±?3.59 versus 9.6?±?4.2 and 9.07?±?2.43 ng/mL); but the difference is not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Higher maternal calcium and lower 25(OH)D levels detected in patients with Grade 3 placental calcification indicated the importance of placenta on vitamin D regulation.     

Perinatal vitamin D metabolism. III. Factors influencing late gestational human serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Sera were obtained during the last trimester from both black and white women receiving prenatal care for determinations of calcium, magnesium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD). The mean serum 25-OHD concentrations were 15.4 +/- 5.9 ng, per milliliter (S.D.) in February (n = 56) and 42.1 +/- 13.9 ng.per milliliter in August (n = 61). There was no significant racial difference in serum 25-OHD in February or August. No seasonal difference in calcium was noted but magnesium concentrations were lower in August. No correlation existed between serum 25-OHD and serum calcium or magnesium, parity, time from last pregnancy, maternal age, or social class. Concentrations of 25-OHD showed weak correlations with vitamin D intake (r = 0.32) and duration of gestation (r = 0.26) in the winter only. These data suggest that, regardless of race, ultraviolet exposure is the major determinant of maternal serum 25-OHD concentration in St. Louis. Dietary intake and and other factors may be important during periods of decreased ultraviolet exposure.     

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns as seen at a tertiary-care center in Karachi, Pakistan

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan; correlate maternal and cord blood vitamin D deficiency; and assess possible predictors of vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

This observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 consecutive women in labor presenting with a singleton term pregnancy at a large tertiary center in Karachi. Data were recorded on a special form, maternal blood was taken before delivery and cord blood was taken at delivery. All blood samples were analyzed for 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Comparisons were made using the Χ² test.

Results

The mean vitamin D levels were 24 ng/mL for the participants and 20 ng/mL for the newborns. Vitamin D sufficiency was noted in 11 (22%), insufficiency in 16 (32%), and deficiency in 23 (46%) of the 50 participants whereas sufficiency and deficiency, respectively, were noted in 6 (12%) and 44 (88%) of the newborns. There was a positive correlation between the vitamin D levels in maternal and cord blood (r = 0.03; P < 0.003). Maternal vitamin D levels were significantly affected by sunlight exposure (P < 0.007) and quality of diet P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is high among pregnant urban Pakistani women and their newborns. This public health problem needs urgent attention.     

Maternal nutrition as a determinant of fetal weight: role of trace elements and vitamins

Objective

To evaluate maternal trace elements and vitamins food intake in the last month of pregnancy and assess their effect on fetal weight.

Material and methods

It is a food intake survey led near 350 pregnant women. All women participated in a nutritional survey and were at term. To examine dietary intakes, food frequency questionnaires were completed before delivery on the diet during the last 24 hours. Authors compared the maternal intakes to the recommended allowance and analyzed the correlation between these intakes and fetal weight.

Results

This study confirmed the influence of factors such as parity, maternal BMI and term of pregnancy on the fetal weight. The mean daily intakes of iron (10.7 mg/day), calcium (553 mg/day), zinc (6.2 mg/day), magnesium (284.3 mg/day) were lower than recommended. The mean daily intakes of vitamins C and E did not differ from recommended allowance. Only calcium intakes were significantly correlated to birth weight.

Conclusion

We noted a deficiency of most of these intakes compared to the recommended dietary allowance. Trace elements and vitamins C, E maternal-food intakes in the end of pregnancy don't seem to be a significant determinant of foetal weight.