Vitamin D Levels in Pregnant Congolese Women and Their New-Borns, and the Association with Neonatal Outcomes – A Pilot Study

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background</jats:bold>: This study was thus undertaken to study the estimation of vitamin D levels in pregnant women and their newborns in DRC and to study its association with various neonatal outcomes. <jats:bold>Methods</jats:bold>: Observational study done on 569 pregnant women and their newborn babies. Sample obtained from maternal serum and cord blood from the placental end during peripartum period. The data was analysed to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D levels in mothers and newborns and to identify association, if any, between maternal vitamin D levels and neonatal outcomes.<jats:bold>Results</jats:bold>: 464 mothers had sufficient vitamin D (VDS) levels (<jats:underline>&gt;</jats:underline>30 ng/dL) and 105 had vitamin D deficiency (VDD) with mean maternal serum vitamin D level of 35.63ng/ml (SD 6.18, range 9.2-39.8). All the newborns (n=569) were vitamin D deficient (&lt;30ng/ml). The percentage of LBW babies born to VDD mothers was 18.09%, which was very similar to the percentage of LBW babies born to VDS mothers (18.31%) (p=0.76456749). The incidence of caesarean section was 58.09% in the vitamin D deficient (VDD) group as compared to 19.61% in the sufficient (VDS) group (p&lt;0.0005). The incidence of preterm births was 10.77% in the sufficient group (VDS) as compared to 17.14% in the vitamin D deficient (VDD) group (p=0.038). <jats:bold>Conclusion</jats:bold>: Our findings will help health professionals, policy makers, and the general public in Africa aware of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the associated health risks.</jats:p>