RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy was suggested to affect fetal growth. We aimed to investigate the association between calcium and phosphorus in cord blood and birth size parameters in term infants. METHODS: The study included 70 pregnant women and their neonates. Birth weight, birth length and head circumference of the neonates were measured. Cord blood samples were obtained at delivery. Maternal and cord blood calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone were measured. The association between variables was evaluated with Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Cord blood calcium levels were significantly positively correlated with birth weight, birth length and head circumference (r=0.308 P=0.009, r=0.324 P=0.006, r=0.296 P=0.013 respectively). Cord phosphorus was significantly positively correlated with birth length (r=0.358 P=0.002). In subjects with higher phosphorus levels cord calcium were more strongly correlated with birth weight, birth length and head circumference than in the overall group (r=0.487 P=0.003, r=0.515 P=0.002, r=0.396 P=0.018 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cord blood calcium and phosphorus levels are associated with birth size parameters. There may be interactions between calcium and phosphorus to affect fetal growth.
Asunto(s)
Calcio/sangre , Sangre Fetal/química , Desarrollo Fetal/efectos de los fármacos , Fósforo/sangre , Adulto , Peso al Nacer , Estatura , Calcio/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Cabeza/anatomía & histología , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Embarazo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine the vitamin D status of 4-month-old exclusively breastfed infants supplemented with 400 IU daily of vitamin D and to determine whether there was any seasonal variation in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels of infants. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, and 25(OH)D levels of 143 exclusively breastfed 4-month-old infants supplemented daily with 400 IU of vitamin D were measured in a temperate latitude, Izmir, Turkey, between May 2008 and April 2009. A questionnaire on demographic characteristics of infants and mothers, vitamin D supplementation of infants after birth, mothers' multivitamin supplementation, dressing habits, and consumption of dairy products during pregnancy was used. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (≤ 50 nmol/L) and insufficiency (51-74 nmol/L) were determined in 40 (28%) and 55 (38.5%) infants, respectively. During winter days, serum 25(OH)D levels were <20 ng/mL in 45.4% of infants and <10 ng/mL in 10.6% of infants. Season of blood sampling, compliance of vitamin D supplementation, maternal education level, and consumption of dairy products were highly predictive of serum 25(OH)D levels in multiple linear regression analysis (P < .05). The use of the Pearson correlation test found a statistically significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone levels (r = -0.419, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin D daily, the rate of vitamin D deficiency was worryingly high in 4-month-old exclusively breastfed infants living in Izmir, Turkey. So, additional studies are needed to clarify optimal amount of vitamin D supplementation to the infants, especially during winter days.
Asunto(s)
Lactancia Materna , Colecalciferol/uso terapéutico , Suplementos Dietéticos , Estaciones del Año , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/prevención & control , Vitamina D/análogos & derivados , Vitaminas/uso terapéutico , Biomarcadores/sangre , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Factores de Riesgo , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Resultado del Tratamiento , Turquía , Vitamina D/sangre , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/sangre , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/diagnóstico , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/etiologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The homocysteine level in blood is affected by gender, diet, smoking, folic acid and B-complex vitamins. It is known that higher than normal homocysteine levels in plasma may cause vascular endothelium dysfunction, resulting in the promotion of thrombus formation. In our study, we aimed to assess the effects of smoking during pregnancy on the homocysteine and folic acid levels of the mother and baby. METHODS: The study included 58 pregnant women who had completed their 37th week of gestation: 30 women were nonsmokers (NONSM) and 28 were smokers (SM). The measurement of homocysteine and folic acid levels in all samples were performed with an Immulite 2000 analyzer, using the chemiluminescence method. RESULTS: Maternal blood folic acid levels were significantly lower in SM (p = 0.041) than in NONSM. In SM, homocysteine levels in the umbilical cord blood were found to be significantly higher than those in NONSM (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: High homocysteine levels in umbilical cord blood of smoking mothers, and the probable continuation of passive smoking for the babies after birth, make us think that the baby may have a predisposition towards vascular diseases at later periods in life.