Intrapartum vitamin D levels a predictor of new-born anthropometry: An observational study in a teaching hospital of Eastern India.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a common issue and a significant global public health concern. Over the years, fetal growth and development have been studied, and it has been discovered that they are linked to vitamin D. Aim and Objective: To estimate the vitamin D levels of mothers and neonates and determine an association between mothers' serum vitamin D status and neonate anthropometry. Methodology: The research was performed between January 2020 and April 2021. A total of 97 participants-singleton (mother and neonate pair) at the time of delivery-were enrolled using convenient sampling. Five millilitres each of cord blood and maternal venous blood were taken at the time of delivery. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to analyse the vitamin D levels. One researcher measured the birth weight, length, head circumference, and chest circumference. Results: Mothers had 87.6% vitamin D deficiency. About 50.5% of newborns were vitamin D deficient. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the vitamin D levels of the mother as a predictor of neonate anthropometry. It was found to be significant with neonate length and neonatal head circumference. Supplementation with vitamin D and calcium during pregnancy was also found to predict the birth weight of neonates. Conclusion: Insufficient vitamin D was reported in 92.8% of mothers. Neonatal vitamin D insufficiency was found to be 94.8%. Neonatal vitamin D levels are substantially correlated with those of their mothers. Antenatal supplements of calcium along with vitamin D were seen to significantly improve birth weight and maternal vitamin D levels, while the extra supplementation of vitamin D during pregnancy significantly improved neonatal length and head circumference.