High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Native versus Migrant Mothers and Newborns in the North of Italy: A Call to Act with a Stronger Prevention Program

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin D status during pregnancy is related to neonatal vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Aim of this study was to investigate 25OHD levels in maternal serum and in neonatal blood spots in native and migrant populations living in Novara (North Italy, 45°N latitude).Methods and FindingsWe carried out a cross sectional study from April 1st 2012 to March 30th 2013, in a tertiary Care Center. Maternal blood samples after delivery and newborns' blood spots were analyzed for 25OHD levels in 533 pairs. Maternal country of origin, skin phototype, vitamin D dietary intake and supplementation during pregnancy were recorded. Multivariate regression analysis, showed a link between neonatal and maternal 25OHD levels (R-square:0.664). Severely deficient 25OHD values (<25 nmol/L) were found in 38% of Italian and in 76.2% of migrant’s newborns (p <0.0001), and in 18% of Italian and 48,4% of migrant mothers (p <0.0001) while 25OHD deficiency (≥25 and <50 nmol/L) was shown in 40.1% of Italian and 21.7% of migrant’s newborns (p <0.0001), and in 43.6% of Italian and 41.3% of migrant mothers (p <0.0001). Italian newborns and mothers had higher 25OHD levels (34.4±19.2 and 44.9±21.2nmol/L) than migrants (17.7±13.7 and 29.7±16.5nmol/L; p<0.0001). A linear decrease of 25OHD levels was found with increasing skin pigmentation (phototype I 42.1 ±18.2 vs phototype VI 17.9±10.1 nmol/l; p<0.0001). Vitamin D supplementation resulted in higher 25OHD values both in mothers and in their newborns (p<0.0001).ConclusionsVitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy and in newborns is frequent especially among migrants. A prevention program in Piedmont should urgently be considered and people identified as being at risk should be closely monitored. Vitamin D supplementation should be taken into account when considering a preventative health care policy.

Prevalence and determinants of vitamin D deficiency in the third trimester of pregnancy: a multicentre study in Switzerland

“…Data from our multicentre study indicate an overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of 53 % among women in the third trimester of pregnancy in Switzerland. This overall prevalence is somewhat comparable with the prevalence reported in neighbouring countries, such as Germany (77 % (32) ), Northern Italy (85 % (33) ) or France (41 % (34) ). More broadly, our results lie within the wide range of reported prevalence rates of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, whether the investigated populations are located in the Mediterranean region (22•7-90•3 % (20) ) or in the North of Europe (Belgium 45 % (35) , Finland 60 % (36) , Sweden 65 % (17) ).…”

Vitamin D and Type I Diabetes

“…In our previous studies, we found, in our region, a frequent vitamin D insufficiency in pregnancy and in newborns especially among migrants [64,65]. Moreover, we highlighted an association between vitamin D status at birth and risk of having type 1 diabetes up to 10 years of age, also if only in the subgroup of migrant babies.…”

Vitamin D: Daily vs. Monthly Use in Children and Elderly—What Is Going On?

“…A multicenter study conducted in Europe on 1006 children between 12.5 years and 17.5 years found 42% of subjects with deficit and 39% with vitamin D insufficiency [ 25 ]. Data collected from Italian children are similar to those from Europeans and Americans, in particular the highest percentages of hypovitaminosis D are found in the neonatal period [ 26 ] and adolescence [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Status of vitamin D in infants is influenced by season of birth, ethnicity and maternal prophylaxis during pregnancy, while for adolescents and children important factors include the season in which they get the dosage, sun exposure, ethnicity, and BMI [ 13 ].…”