Introduction. Inadequate vitamin D supply worldwide is a public health problem. Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy can lead to abnormal placentation, placental insufficiency and abnormal fetal development, which contributes to poor health after birth.Objective of the study is to analyze the vitamin D status of premature infants born in the south of Russia.Materials and methods. A total of 141 premature infants were examined. Extremely low birth weight was found in 19 (13.4%) newborns, very low birth weight in 35 (24.8%), and low birth weight in 75 (53.2%).Results and discussion. Premature infants had vitamin D deficiency in the majority of cases (51%), with a median of 16.9 [11.7; 22.9] ng/mL. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between 25(OH)D levels and body weight in very low birth weight infants (r = 0.34, p = 0.043). Serum vitamin D concentrations were 1.6 times lower in infants whose mothers did not receive multivitamins than in those whose mothers received multivitamins, 13.8 [9.7; 20.9] and 21.6 [16.9; 28.6] ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.001). Infants with an Apgar score of 7-10 had higher vitamin D levels, 17.8 [11.9; 22.7] ng/mL, than infants with severe asphyxia, 13.8 [9.9; 16.8] ng/mL (p = 0.036). Premature infants with congenital infection had lower 25(OH)D levels than infants without an infectious process, 15.6 [10.8; 22.9] and 18.4 [14.2; 22.7] ng/mL, respectively. Children with an infectious process that subsequently ended in death had lower 25(OH)D levels than children without an infectious process (p = 0.001). Children with cerebral ischemia had lower 25(OH)D concentrations than children without cerebral ischemia (p = 0.001).Conclusions. Premature infants born in the south of Russia have vitamin D deficiency in more than half of the cases. Administration of preparations containing cholecalciferol reduces the proportion of newborns with severe vitamin D deficiency, but does not ensure optimal serum levels. Initially low levels of 25(OH)D can be considered as an unfavorable prognostic sign against the background of the development of congenital infection.

Anemia of prematurity is a common pathology in premature infants. The prevalence of anemia of prematurity is inversely proportional to the gestational age and body weight at birth. The pathogenetic importance of impaired erythropoietin (EPO) production in anemia of prematurity provides the rationale for therapy with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) including recombinant EPO. A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of different regimens of recombinant human erythropoietin in extremely and very low birth weight infants (ELBW and VLBW) was studied. Research has been set as a prospective analysis of 133 VLBW and ELBW infants (in the period from December 2017 to February 2019). Gestational age (GA) of the children ranged from 26 to 33 weeks, of these, GA of 75 children (56%) was 30 weeks or less. Depending on the treatment of anemia of prematurity all infants were divided into 5 groups: group 1 (n = 26) – premature babies who were prescribed ESAs since 3 day of life 200 IU/kg 3 times per week subcutaneously; group 2 (n = 21) – premature babies who were prescribed ESAs since 3 day of life 400 IU/kg 3 times per week subcutaneously; group 3 (n = 37) – premature babies who were prescribed ESAs since 8 day of life 200 IU/kg 3 times per week subcutaneously; group 4 (n = 18) – premature babies who were prescribed ESAs since 8 day of life 400 IU/kg 3 times per week subcutaneously; group 5 (n = 31) premature infants who did not receive treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (control group). Subgroups of children of gestational age ≤ 30 weeks were identified in each group. The groups and subgroups did not differ significantly in gestational age, weight, birth length, and Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes of life, p > 0.05. Also, there were no statistically significant differences in the age of the 1st transfusion, the frequency and total volume of transfusions, the duration of respiratory therapy, the duration of hospitalization, including treatment in NICU, body weight and age at discharge. The frequency of retinopathy of prematurity stage ≥ 3, periventricular leukomalacia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia of moderate and severe severity, intraventricular hemorrhages of varying severity, necrotizing enterocolitis was not statistically significant in the study groups and subgroups. Statistically significant differences in the concentration of hemoglobin in the peripheral blood of premature infants were revealed at discharge. In the control group, children had a lower level of hemoglobin at discharge (94 g/l) compared with the groups with early appointment of ESAs (109 g/l and 107 g/l in groups 1 and 2, respectively, P0-1 = 0.048 and P0-2 = 0.047) due to newborn GA ≤ 30 weeks. It is preferable to use of the drug ESAs at a dose of 200 IU/kg 3 p/week p/, starting from the 3rd day of life. The effectiveness of erythropoietin therapy, the time of its start and various treatment regimens remain controversial issues that require further study. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee of the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov.

This article discusses negative effects of vitamin D deficiency on low birthweight preterm and full-term newborns. Results of the studies on vitamin D provision to pregnant women and their newborn children are addressed. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in pregnant women and newborns. It was demonstrated that inadequate antenatal provision of a fetus with vitamin D may result in congenital rickets and neonatal seizures due to hypocalcemia in newborns and also accounts for increased rates of necrotic enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dys-plasia, and impaired growth and development as well as higher risk of lower respiratory tract infections (i.e., bronchiolitis, pneumonia) during the first year of a child’s life. In addition, it was shown that persistent vitamin D deficiency in future years may be associated with recurrent respiratory infections, allergic (e.g., atopic dermatitis, asthma, etc.), autoimmune, endocrine, and psycho-neurological disorders. Preventive and therapeutic strategies for vitamin D deficiency in low birthweight preterm and full-term newborns since neonatal period are discussed.Keywords: vitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, calcidiol, low birthweight newborn, preterm newborn, full-term newborn.For citation: Zakharova I.N., Mal’tsev S.V., Zubkov V.V. et al. Vitamin D, low birthweight preterm and full-term newborns: time for a paradigm shift. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2020;3(2):142–148. DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2020-3-2-142-148.

This paper reviews the effects of vitamin D deficiency on pregnant women and newborns. It was demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women is associated with higher risks of threatened preterm labor, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, bacterial vaginosis, and impaired uterine contractility as well as higher rate of C-sections. Vitamin D insufficiency in newborns is associated with inadequate bone mineralization and also results in metabolic disorders, hypocalcemic seizures, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotic enterocolitis, sepsis, mental and developmental disorders, and higher risks of various (infectious, allergic etc.) disorders. Optimal vitamin D dosing regimen in pregnant women and newborns is discussed.KEYWORDS: pregnancy, vitamin D, vitamin D insufficiency, newborn, complications of pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes.FOR CITATION: Zakharova I.N., Mal’tsev S.V., Zubkov V.V. et al. Effect of vitamin D on the pregnancy and the health of newborns and infants: state-of-the-art. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2020;3(3):174–181. DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2020-3-3-174-181.

No abstract

The article details the pattern of a home nursing visit of a newborn. The authors advise when after birth the visit should take place and by whom, its purpose, the components of the newborn examination after discharge from maternity hospital, and recommendations for young parents.

No abstract

No abstract