ESPE Abstracts

Background: Recent studies have found a widespread deficiency of vitamin D during pregnancy. Its significance is still not fully understood, although low Vit-D levels have been associated to increased risk for conditions such as preeclampsia, bacterial vaginosis, neonatal sepsis, and early respiratory infections in the child. Supplementation to the pregnant mother is still a matter of debate, therefore it is important to understand better the causes, risk factors, and possible consequences of such deficiency.

Objective and hypotheses: Our aim was to obtain information about vit-D levels and some of the potential risk factors in a coastal area with mediterranean weather.

Method: The study was conducted between May 2012 and May 2013 in the Baix Penedes County Hospital (El Vendrell). We collected statistical data of the mothers and measured the Vit-D levels of 358 cord blood samples. Forty-seven percent of the children born during the study period. The mothers were 57% from Spanish origin, 25% moroccan, 10% latinamerican, and 8% from other European countries.

Results: The levels in all groups followed closely the solar radiation pattern during the year, being higher on august and lower during January, in average below deficiency threshold. Mothers of Maghrebi ethnicity had the lowest levels on average (9.26 ng/dl) and consistently during the year, down to undetectable on winter months. The average Vit-D levels had a positive relationship to the ingestion of Vit-D containing supplements, and negative relationship to the weight gain during pregnancy and heavy tobacco consumption. We found a significant association between low Vit-D levels and third trimester strep-B positive cultures, but were unable to find other relationships.

Conclusion: There are significant differences between seasons among ethnic groups, winter being worse for all but, particularly for women of Maghrebi origin.