Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: We aimed to establish the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and analyse its association with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Material and methods: In this descriptive, case control and cross sectional study, pregnant women were screened at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy using a 75 g, 2 h oral glucose tolerance test. Fourthy-six GDM diagnosed (case, group 1) and 43 healthy pregnants (control, group 2) were recruited. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of less than (20 ng/ml) were defined as deficiency. Groups were matched according to their serum magnesium levels, multivitamin use and hypertensive status. Mann–Whitney U test and Pearson correlation test were used for statistical comparisons.

Results: The mean ages were 33.3±4.9 years (18–44 years) in group 1, and 29.9±4.4 years (21–39 years) in group 2. Mean vitamin D levels were 20.5±10.1 ng/ml (min. 4–max. 39.3) in group 1 and 23.1±12.6 ng/ml (min. 6.6–max. 73) in group 2 (P=0.3). Frequency of vitamin D deficiency status was not significantly difference between groups (51.4% (n=18) in group 1 and 44.7% (n=17) in group 2).

Plasma vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with OGTT (50 gr) and PTH levels (respectively r=−0.7, P=0.006, r=−0.8, P=0.002). There was no association between vitamin D levels and serum insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c levels and BMI. Eleven of vitamin D-deficient pregnants (30.6%) were veiled and only seven pregnants (19.4%) were engaged in physical activity of at least 30 min/day duration.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalant in our GDM patients as in our general population. This may be mostly attributable to lifestyle and genetic factors. As GDM and hypovitaminosis D continue to increase all in the world, we suggest that establishing potential factors that affect GDM and improving vitamin D status in pregnancy may prevent their possible adverse health outcomes.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.