Vitamin D and Calcium Status in Pregnant Women in Western-Libya
[1]
Ashraf Mohamed Albakoush, Department of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Technology, Sabratha University, Surman, Libya.
[2]
Azab Elsayed Azab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabratha University, Sabratha, Libya.
Vitamin D deficiency is common during pregnancy especially among high-risk groups, including vegetarians, women with limited sun exposure. Severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with biochemical evidence of disordered skeletal homeostasis. The present study aims to evaluate the status of vitamin D and calcium ions in pregnant women in Western-Libya. A total of 79 pregnant women were included in the present study. 21, 34, and 24 pregnant women were in the 1 st trimester, the 2nd trimester, and the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, respectively. A complete data record was obtained including name, age, duration of pregnancy, weight, height, healthy diet, and family history of chronic diseases using standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects for measurement of serum vitamin D and calcium. Venous blood was drawn in plain blood tube containing clot activator and immediately centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain serum and immediately analyzed. A significant decrease in vitamin D level was recorded in pregnant women as compared with a non pregnant woman. The highest level of serum calcium was found in the 2nd trimester and the highest level of vitamin D was found in the 3rd trimester. 84.8% of study group had a vitamin D level less than 20ng/ml and 46.8% had a calcium level less than 8.4mg/dl. The levels of vitamin D were less than 20ng/ml in the 1st, 2nd, and the 3rd trimesters of pregnancy as 95.2%, 91.2%, and 66.7%, respectively. And calcium levels were less than 8.4 mg/dl in the 1st, 2nd, and the 3rd trimesters of pregnancy as 61.9%, 35.3%, and 50%, respectively. Also, the study revealed a significant correlation between vitamin D and serum calcium levels, but no correlation between vitamin D and BMI or between serum calcium and BMI were observed in pregnant women. Despite the large amount of sunshine in Libya, these results show that pregnant women in our region are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. So, we need to focus our emphasis on maternal nutrition, especially adequate vitamin D and calcium intake, which may pave way in the long run for prevention of future bone health related conditions like osteoporosis.
Calcium Status, Vitamin D Status, Pregnant Women, Western Libya
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