Evaluation of vitamin D status in antenatal patients attending OPD at a tertiary care centre

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a worldwide epidemic. Studies have reported a prevalence that ranges from 18-84%, depending on country of residence, season and local clothing customs. Furthermore studies have shown that pregnancy alone is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency particularly among women living at high altitudes.Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, impaired fetal skeletal formation and bone mineral density (BMD). Aim of our study is to assess vitamin D levels in antenatal patients in first trimester attending OPD at a tertiary care centre. : It is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in department of OBG at SGRD, Sri Amritsar. All participants meeting inclusion criteria were enrolled for the study and written informed consent was taken. Serum sample of the eligible primigravida was taken at time of recruitment, centrifuged and stored at -70 degrees for assessment of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D level. : A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in our study population where only 18.8% had adequate levels of vitamin D while 81.2% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency (69% were insufficient and 12.2% were severe deficient), and none of the participants was having vitamin D toxicity. The deficiency was equally high in all age groups of study participants irrespective of their area of residence. The mean serum calcium in severe deficient and adequate group was 7.97±0.61 and 9.22 ±0.63 respectively (p=0.001). Similarly mean serum phosphorus levels in severe deficient and adequate group is 3.03±0.79 and 3.60±0.63 respectively (p=0.001). Maternal education, socioeconomic status, obesity, serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels were significantly associated with severe vitamin D deficiency. : Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among pregnant women who participated in our study, which raises concern about the health consequences for the mother and the offspring.