All infants with small heads (less than 33 cm) were from mothers with low vitamin D levels

The Relationship between Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency and Low Birth Weight Neonates.

J Family Reprod Health. 2015 Sep;9(3):113-117.

Khalessi N1, Kalani M2, Araghi M1, Farahani Z3.

Objective: Maternal hypovitaminosis D may impair fetal growth and cause adverse pregnancy outcomes including intrauterine growth restriction and neonatal low birth weight. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and neonate's birth weight.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study was carried out in the nursery ward of 2 hospitals (Tehran-Iran) during one year (January 2011- January 2012). One hundred and two neonates were categorized into two groups, neonates with birth weight< 2500 gr (n=52) and neonates with birth weight>2500 gr (n = 50). Data regarding medical history, physical examination and anthropometric measurements of neonates were noted in a questionnaire. Birth time blood samples of their mothers were analyzed for serum 25-(OH)-vitamin D by ELISA method. Maternal vitamin D status was compared in two groups.

Results: Mean maternal vitamin D (vit D) level was 31.46 nmol/L. Forty eight percent of mothers had vitamin D deficiency, 27.5% had vit D insufficiency and 24.5% were normal. Mean maternal vitamin D level of LBW neonates was lower than other group; 25.05 vs. 38.13 (p = 0.001).

All mothers of neonates with head circumference ≤ 33 cm also had vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.007).

Conclusion: Maternal Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of low birth weight neonate and modifying maternal nutrition behavior and their vit D level could be beneficial on pregnancy outcome.

PMID: 26622309

See also VitaminDWiki

• Vitamin D intervention for 8 weeks of pregnancy: infants taller, heavier and bigger heads – RCT Oct 2013

• Ensure a healthy pregnancy and infant with as little as $20 of Vitamin D

• Getting vitamin D during pregnancy is even more important than avoiding alcohol

• Small for gestational age birth was 6.5X more likely if mother was vitamin D deficient – March 2015

  Stunting OR “low birth weight” OR LBW OR preemie OR preemies OR preterm 778 items as of Dec 2015

  Search VitaminDWiki for "HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE" 52 items as of Dec 2015

  Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D has the following summary

{include}