VITAMIN-D DEFICIENCY - A CONCERN IN PREGNANT ASIAN WOMEN

Vitamin D status of Asian mothers in Cardiff was investigated during e arly pregnancy and at the time of the birth of their babies, using ser um parathyroid hormone (PTH), Median values in Asian (n 32) and Caucas ian (n 63) mothers in early pregnancy were 1 . 56 and 0 . 81 pmol/l re spectively, PTH levels from a separate sample of nineteen Asian and tw enty-five Caucasian mothers at the time of birth were 3 . 0 and 2 . 20 pmol/l respectively, Altogether twelve Asian and two Caucasian women had elevated PTH. All Asian women who had high PTH values also had a v ery low serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol level (25OHD), Ah samples were taken from women with no significant medical history and normal obste tric history. These findings suggest that subclinical vitamin D defici ency is still a cause for concern in Asian women, More active measures need to be taken to implement current recommendations to improve thei r vitamin D intake in pregnancy.