J Bone Metab.  2015 Aug;22(3):127-133. 10.11005/jbm.2015.22.3.127.

Effects of Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and Fetal Bone Growth during Pregnancy

• Lee DH
• Ryu HM
• Han YJ
• Lee SW
• Park SY
• Yim CH
• Kim SH
• Yoon HK

• KMID: 2170109
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11005/jbm.2015.22.3.127

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to observe the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the effects of maternal 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-[OH]D) levels on fetal bone growth.
METHODS
Five hundred twenty-three Korean pregnant women were randomly recruited and serum 25-(OH)D level was measured. During pregnancy, fetal ultrasonography and serum 25-(OH)D measurements were carried out 3 times in 275 of 523 pregnant women. Fetal biparietal and occipitofrontal diameter, head and abdominal circumference, and femur and humerus length were measured through fetal ultrasonography.
RESULTS
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-[OH]D<20 ng/mL) based on the 1st serum measurement of 25-(OH)D was 88.9%. There was no association between maternal serum 25-(OH)D level and fetal bone growth. In 275 pregnant women who completed study design, the mean value of 25-(OH)D was 12.97+/-5.93, 19.12+/-9.82, and 19.60+/-9.98 ng/mL at 12 to 14, 20 to 22, and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy, respectively and there was an association between the difference of serum 25-(OH)D level between 12 to 14 and 20 to 22 weeks and growth velocity of fetal biparietal diameter between 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Korean pregnant women and the change of serum 25-(OH)D levels is related with the growth of fetal biparietal diameter, however other parameters are not associated with serum 25-(OH)D levels.

Keyword

Fetal development; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Bone Development*
Female
Femur
Fetal Development
Head
Humans
Humerus
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Prevalence
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flow of measurements for participants in this study. 275 among 523 early pregnant women were completed the blood samplings and ultrasonographys three times. 25-(OH)D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D. Parameters for measurement. *biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC); **biparietal diameter (BPD), occipitofrontal diameter (OFD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) femur length (FL), humerus length (HL).

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of fetal growth velocity between pregnant women whose serum 25-(OH)D level was higher than 20 ng/mL and those who were 25-(OH)D deficient. (A) No association between serum 25-(OH)D levels at 12 to 14 weeks and the growth velocity between 12 to 14 and 20 to 22 weeks of pregnancy was observed. (B) The growth velocity between 12 to 14 and 20 to 22 weeks and between 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy were not associated with serum 25-(OH)D levels at 20 to 22 weeks. (C) No association between serum 25-(OH)D levels at 32 to 34 weeks and the growth velocity between 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy was observed. 25-(OH)D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D; BPD, biparietal diameter; AC, abdominal circumference; OFD, occipitofrontal diameter; HC, head circumference; FL, femur length; HL, humerus length. BPD (1), AC(1) : growth velocity between 12-14 and 20-22 weeks of pregnancy. BPD(2), AC(2), OFD(2), HC(2), FL(2), HL(2): growth velocity between 20-22 and 32-34 weeks of pregnancy.

• 

  Fig. 3 Mean value of serum 25-(OH)D at 12 to 14, 20 to 22, 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy in 275 pregnant women who completed study design. Mean value of serum 25-(OH)D at 12 to 14 weeks was significantly different from the mean value at 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. 25-(OH)D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D.

• 

  Fig. 4 Correlation of the difference of serum 25-(OH)D levels between 12 to 14 and 20 to 22 weeks with the growth velocity of fetal biparietal diameter between 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy in 275 pregnant women who completed study design. A positive correlation was observed between the difference of serum 25-(OH)D levels between 12 to 14 and 20 to 22 weeks and growth velocity of fetal biparietal diameter between 20 to 22 and 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. 25-(OH)D, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D.

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