Vitamin D Metabolite Ratio in Pregnant Women with Low Blood Vitamin D Concentrations Is Associated with Neonatal Anthropometric Data

Tomozumi Takatani; Yuzuka Kunii; Mamoru Satoh; Akifumi Eguchi; Midori Yamamoto; Kenichi Sakurai; Rieko Takatani; Fumio Nomura; Naoki Shimojo; Chisato Mori

doi:10.3390/nu14112201

Vitamin D Metabolite Ratio in Pregnant Women with Low Blood Vitamin D Concentrations Is Associated with Neonatal Anthropometric Data

Nutrients. 2022 May 25;14(11):2201. doi: 10.3390/nu14112201.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
² Division of Clinical Mass Spectrometry, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
³ Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
⁴ Department of Bioenvironmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.

Abstract

Existing evidence on the correlation between maternal vitamin D concentrations and birth outcomes is conflicting. Investigation of these associations requires accurate assessment of vitamin D status, especially in individuals with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations. This study examined the correlations between birth outcomes and the maternal vitamin D metabolite ratio (VMR) 1 (defined as the ratio of 24,25(OH)₂D₃ to 25(OH)D) and VMR2 (defined as the ratio of 3-epi-25(OH)D₃ to 25(OH)D) using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study at Chiba Regional Center. A total of 297 mother-neonate pairs were analyzed. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we measured 25(OH)D₂, 25(OH)D₃, 24,25(OH)₂D₃, and 3-epi-25(OH)D₃ concentrations in maternal serum samples. These data were analyzed in relation to birth anthropometric data using multivariable linear regression. Of the study participants, 85.2% showed insufficient vitamin D concentrations. VMR1 was strongly correlated with 25(OH)D concentrations, whereas VMR2 showed a weak correlation. Only VMR2 was associated with all anthropometric data. VMR2 in pregnant women with low vitamin D blood concentrations is a useful marker for neonatal anthropometric data and is independent of 25(OH)D. Accurate measurement of vitamin D metabolites could help better understand the effects of vitamin D on birth outcomes.

Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; 3-epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3; birth anthropometric data; vitamin D insufficiency; vitamin D metabolite ratio.

MeSH terms

Calcifediol
Child
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women*
Tandem Mass Spectrometry* / methods
Vitamin D
Vitamins

Substances

Vitamins
Vitamin D
Calcifediol

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The findings and conclusions of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the aforementioned government agencies.