Low maternal vitamin D status and fetal bone development: Cohort study

• DOI: 10.1359/jbmr.090701
• Publication Date: 2009-07-06T21:08:39Z
• Authors: Pamela Mahon; Nicholas Harvey; Sarah Crozier; Hazel Inskip; Sian Robinson; Nigel Arden; Rama Swaminathan; Cyrus Cooper; Keith Godfrey
• Keywords: Adult; 2. Zero hunger; Bone Development; 610; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Bone and Bones; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; 618; Cohort Studies; Fetal Development; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Fetus; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Femur; Vitamin D

Recent findings suggest that maternal vitamin D insufficiency during pregnancy has consequences for the offspring's bone health in later life. To investigate whether affects fetal femur growth ways similar to those seen childhood rickets and study timing gestation of any effect status, we studied 424 pregnant women within a prospective longitudinal nutrition lifestyle before (Southampton Women's Survey). Using high-resolution 3D ultrasound, measured length distal metaphyseal cross-sectional area, together with ratio femoral area (femoral splaying index). Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin concentration was not related but associated greater higher index at 19 weeks' [r = -0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.25 -0.06 r -0.17, CI -0.26 -0.07, respectively] 34 (r -0.10, -0.20 0.00 -0.11, -0.21 -0.01, respectively). Three groups were identified concentrations sufficient/borderline (> 50 nmol/L, 63.4%), insufficient (25 30.7%), deficient (< or 25 5.9%). Across these groups, geometric mean indices increased from 0.074 (sufficient/borderline) 0.078 (insufficient) 0.084 (deficient). Our observations can influence development as early gestation. This suggests measures improve status should be instituted pregnancy.