Evaluation of umbilical cord vitamin D level and maternal factors effective on it in three hospitals of Emam Reza, Ghaem & Omol Banin during 2013-2014

Congenital rickets which is a nutritional rickets is caused by low levels of vitamin D during fetal period that its cause is lack of this vitamin in pregnant mother. This study was performed with the aim to evaluate cord vitamin D level and the factors effective on it in the sample of Iranian born neonates. This cross sectional study was performed on the pregnant women who had referred to three hospitals of Mashhad University of medical sciences for delivery. A sample of 5 cc cord blood of 190 newborns was prepared. Calcium، phosphor، vitamin D، and alkaline phosphates were measured in the neonate''s cord blood sample. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16)، and Chi-square، Fisher exact، Kolmogronov-Smironov، paired t، Wilcoxon، Independent t، and Mann-Whitney tests. 15 mothers (7. 9%) had underlying disease that 12 women had diabetes mellitus and 3 (1. 6%) had preeclampsia. 77 mothers (40. 5%) mentioned use of vitamin D. Severe vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D level less than 12 ng/ml) was observed in 63 mothers (33. 2%) and moderate vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D level between 12-20 ng/ml) in 99 (52. 1%)، and normal vitamin D level in 28 (14. 7%). The results of present study confirm the relative high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant mothers and insufficient sun light exposure and maternal skin type were its main risk factor.