Bone nutritional status in neonates and their mothers

Objective To investigate bone nutritional status of neonates and their mothers as well as the correlation between them by estimating the concentrations of 25-(OH)D3, calcium and phosphorus in maternal blood and cord blood at birth, and by measuring the bone speed of sound (SOS) of neonates and their mothers with quantitative ultrasound within 3 days after birth. Methods The concentrations of 25-(OH)D3, calcium and phosphorus in the serum were estimated both from 32 pregnant women who had a term delivery and from the umbilical cord at birth. Within 3 days after delivery, the bone SOS values of the mothers measured from their radius and neonates from their tibia were estimated and the correlation between the mothers and their neonates was analyzed. Thirty-nine non-pregnant healthy women who at the same age as the pregnant women were selected as control group and had their bone SOS measured. The difference of bone SOS between pregnant and healthy non-pregnant women was compared. Results There was positive correlation between cord blood and maternal blood 25-(OH)D3 concentration [(14. 7±7. 8) nmol/L and (30. 3±10. 2) nmol/L, r= 0 . 680, P=0. 000]. The calcium and phosphorus concentration in cord blood [2.36±0. 28)mmol/L and (1.57±0.76) mmol/L] were significant higher than that in maternal blood E(2.09± 0. 17) mmol/L and (1.04±0. 28) mmol/L], but no correlation was found (r=0. 146, P=0. 467; r=0. 148, P=0. 445). No significant correlation was shown in the bone SOS between the infants and their mothers[(3054±76)m/s and (4170+241)m/s, r=0. 223, P=0. 220]. The concentration of 25-(OH)D3 in cord blood was closely correlated with the bone SOS of infants(r=0. 412, P=0. 026). The SOS of healthy women was obviously higher than that of pregnant women [(4258±100)m/s vs (41704±241)m/s, P=0. 043]. Conclusions There are close correlations between fetus and their mothers in vitamin D status and also between vitamin D status and fetus bone development. Some pregnant women may be short of vitamin D in autumn and winter in Shanghai and we should monitor the bone nutritional states for pregnant women. Key words: Pregnant women;  Infant,newborn;  Hydroxycholecalciferols;  Bone density