SEASONAL VARIATION IN SERUM‐25‐OH‐D3 IN MOTHERS AND NEWBORN INFANTS IN NORTHERN FINLAND

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Abstract
Two groups, each consisting of 20 Finnish mother-neonate pairs and 10 non-pregnant controls were studied for serum Ca, serum phosphate, serum alkaline phosphatase, parathormone index (PTHind) and S-25-OH-D3 [serum-25-hydroxy-vitamin D3]. The 1st series was collected in winter and the other in summer. The serum samples were taken on the 3rd day after delivery. The concentrations of S-25-OH-D3 were significantly lower in the mothers than in the non-pregnant controls in winter, but the difference was not significant in summer. The concentrations of S-25-OH-D3 in the serum of the mothers were similarly significantly lower in winter than in summer, 10 mothers exhibiting a value below the detection line in winter, but only 2 in summer. The concentrations of S-25-OH-D3 in the mothers and their newborn infants showed a close relationship, but when extremely low values existed in the mothers, the infant concentrations were slightly higher. The seasonal variation in S-25-OH-D3 was also significant in the neonates. Although Ca was decreased and alkaline phosphatase elevated when compared with the non-pregnant controls in the mothers in both groups, these values showed no seasonal variation, and the mean levels of serum Ca, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and PTHind in the neonates also remained unaltered between the 2 groups. Evidently, additional vitamin D should be supplied during pregnancy in the winter months at this latitude.