NUTRITIONAL STATE OF VITAMIN-D IN MOTHERS AND NEONATES IN USHUAIA ANDIN BUENOS-AIRES

Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, total alkaline phosphatase (AP) a nd 25 hydroxyvitamin D (250HD) were measured at the end of the winter in Group 1 (Ushuaia, latitude 55-degrees-S underbar): 16 women (24-48 hs postpartum serum blood) and 20 neonates (cord blood) and in Group 2 (Buenos Aires, latitude 34-degrees-S) 21 women (24-48hs postpartum se rum blood) and their 21 neonates (cord blood). The neonatal serum calc ium and phosphorus were higher and the neonatal serum AP and 250HD lev el were lower than maternal levels in both groups (Table 1 and 2). Ser um levels of 250HD were diminished (< 8 ng/ml) in 62% of the mothers a nd 81% of the neonates of Ushuaia and in 24% of the mothers and 16% of the neonates of Buenos Aires (figure 1). Neonatal serum 250HD levels correlate with maternal serum 250HD levels in the paired group of Buen os Aires (r = 0,65, p < 0,003) (Figure 2). In Ushuaia the serum 250HD levels (X +/- SD) in neonates (3,9 +/- 2,7 ng/ml) and in mothers (6,3 +/- 4,8 ng/ml) were lower than in Buenos Aires (neonates: 11,3 +/- 6,0 ng/ml and mothers: 14,4 +/- 8,4 ng/ml, p < 0,001). Maternal serum cal cium levels were lower in Ushuaia (8,7 +/- 0,8 mg/dl) than in Buenos A ires (9,2 +/- 0,4 mg/dl) (p < 0,05). In conclusion, 1) In Ushuaia preg nant women and their neonates had a deficient nutritional state of vit amin D. Preventive administration of vitamin D would probably be benef icial. 2) In Buenos Aires the majority of pregnant women and neonates had an adequate nutritional state of vitamin D while approximately 20% of them have diminished levels requiring the investigation of the ris k factors that may decrease serum 250HD levels in this population.