ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3] levels of full-term neonates in Daegu and Gyeongbuk province of Korea to determine the association between maternal and neonatal diseases, known to be affected by low 25(OH)D3 levels. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were evaluated in full-term neonates (n=122) who were born at Kyungpook National University Hospital. Normal full-term neonates (control group, n=38) were classified by sex, season of birth, and delivery mode (normal or caesarean section). Serum 25(OH)D3 levels in neonates (n=84) with maternal diseases (gestational diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, pregnancy induced hypertension, premature rupture of membrane and systemic lupus erythematosus) and neonatal diseases (small for gestational age, transient tachypnea of newborn and pneumonia) were compared with those in control group. RESULTS: The mean serum 25(OH)D3 level in the control group was 9.2+/-5.0 ng/mL. There were no statistically significant differences of serum 25(OH)D3 level between the control group and the disease group. In the control group, 63.2% of serum 25(OH)D3 levels referred to vitamin D deficiency, and 34.2% referred to vitamin D insufficiency. In the maternal disease group and the neonatal disease group, 56.1% and 63.0% of serum 25(OH)D3 levels referred to vitamin D deficiency, and 35.0% and 33.3% referred to vitamin D insufficiency. CONCLUSION: High percentages of neonates were found to be deficient or insufficient in vitamin D. Although low 25(OH)D3 levels have previously been associated with maternal and infant diseases, the association was not observed in this study.