Association between Maternal Serum 25(OH)-Vitamin D3 Levels in Late Pregnancy and Profiles of Newborn Amino Acid Concentrations.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is common during pregnancy. 25(OH)-Vitamin D3 is the major vitamin D circulating form in human organism. However, the effects of 25(OH)-vitamin D3 deficiency in late pregnancy on the infant's amino acid metabolism has still not been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D3 levels in late pregnancy and profiles of newborn amino acid concen-trations.

METHODS

A total of 539 women in late pregnancy and their newborns enrolled in this study. The concentrations of 25(OH)-vitamin D3 in maternal serum were measured by ABI 4500 high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS). For newborns, their amino acids levels were measured by ABI 3200 LC/MS/MS. T-test and Spearman's correlation analyses were used in the study as statistical analysis methods.

RESULTS

The concentrations of arginine (Arg) and glycine (Gly) in newborn blood spots were significantly different in each maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D3 status group. There was a significant correlation between maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D3 status and Arg concentration in their offspring (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal serum 25(OH)-vitamin D3 concentration in late pregnancy may affect their newborn's amino acid metabolism, but the precise mechanisms underlying the relationship need further investigation.