Bone Abstracts

Background: Optimal intake of calcium and vitamin D of pregnant women is an important component for the normal course of pregnancy, but here are the contradictory opinions about the case of shortage of the consumption, there is no uniform approach to the appointment of them.

Aim: To assess the level of consumption of alimentary calcium, and characteristic of the status of vitamin D and calcium in blood serum of pregnant women.

Materials and methods: We examined 80 women at the age of 20–35 years (mean age of 27.12±4.36 years) in the third trimester of pregnancy (gestation 31.71±3.37 weeks) residents of Yaroslavl city, Russian Federation. The average consumption of calcium in foodstuff was estimated according to the tables with norms from Russian guidelines for osteoporosis, 2012. The analysis of calcium and vitamin D (25(OH) vitamin D) in blood samples was carried out during the whole year. The concentration of vitamin D in blood serum was determined by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay («ECLIA»), the concentration of calcium – by the method of optical density on the unit COBAS 400 PLUS.

Results: The average consumption of calcium in foodstuff was 1148.25±368.91 mg/day (from 350 to 2064 mg). 29 (36.25%) of women consumed <1000 mg, <1200 mg – 46 (57.50%), more than 1500 mg – only 16 (20.00%) women. The total blood calcium was 2.14±0.28 mmol/l (from 1.43 to 2.48 mmol/l). Hypocalcaemia was in 40 (50.00%) of the pregnant women. The average level of 25(OH) – vitamin D was 26.61±13.69 ng/ml (from 4.10 to 58.16). The normal content ration (more than 30 ng/ml) was detected in 29 (36.25%) of people, insufficiency (from 21 to 29.9 ng/ml) – at 18 (22.50%), deficit (<20 ng/ml) – at 33 (41.25%) women. There was no difference in mean concentration of vitamin D in blood samples from different seasons (from Oct to Apr – 26.51±11.69 ng/ml, from May to Sep – 26.79±17.32 ng/ml, P>0.05). The clinical manifestations of the vitamin D deficiency and/or hypocalcaemia were noted in 17 (21.25%) women.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the wide prevalence of the deficiency of dietary calcium and low level of vitamin D of the urban pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy.