Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and their newborns in a Tunisian population

Objective To assess vitamin D status in mothers and their newborns and identify predictive factors of vitamin D deficiency. Methods A cross‐sectional study was undertaken of healthy women and their full‐term newborns delivered at the Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia, between October and November 2012. Maternal and neonatal serum 25‐hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were measured. Correlations were tested. Results Overall, 87 mothers and their newborns were enrolled. No mother or neonate had an adequate vitamin D status. Mean maternal and neonatal serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 6.82 ± 5.14 ng/mL (range 3.60–23.77) and 5.92 ± 4.15 ng/mL (range 3.60–22.28), respectively. Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) was found in 84 (97%) mothers and 85 (98%) neonates, of whom 76 (87%) and 78 (90%), respectively, had severe deficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL). Maternal serum 25(OH)D showed a strong positive correlation with neonatal serum 25(OH)D ( r = 0.69, P < 0.001). Maternal dietary vitamin D intake was the only factor shown to be associated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among Tunisian mothers and their neonates.