Endocrine Abstracts

For decades vitamin D by its complex action in the human organism is increasingly considered to be a hormone. Therefore, the author presents here the first complex study performed in Moldova for over 10 years examining the correlation between the vitamin D status in pregnant women, newborns, their physical development after birth, the incidence of hypocalcemic states postpartum, and the prevention of rickets within the first year of life by comparing the strategy of specific rickets prevention used in Moldova and the one recommended by the international group researching the phospho-calcic metabolism from Paris. Data on Moldovan neonates confirm the association between low 25(OH)D levels and low serum calcium and show a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency (27% with 25(OH)D levels below 25 nmol/l) in neonates born at the end of winter to mothers not supplemented with vitamin D. Our interventional study of maternal vitamin D prophylaxis shows beneficial impact on fetal growth, neonate vitamin D status and serum calcium, and on the risk to develop rickets, anemia or respiratory diseases during the first year of life of a 2.5 mg dose of vitamin D given orally to mothers on the 6th month of pregnancy. The study shows that the vitamin D status in Moldovan children is not different from that of other European children and that vitamin D prophylaxis of ‘at-risk’ children and adolescents should be discussed as in other European countries.

Genotypes of Moldovan children regarding variants of VDR gene’s regulatory part and of the lactase gene were studied and compared with children of other European origin. Our study of VDR gene variants is the first to analyze a possible interrelation between genetic and environmental factors to achieve an optimal growth and calcium metabolism in children and adolescents.

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.