Estimation of maternal serum vitamin D levels and its correlation with gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Several studies in the past two decades have proved beyond doubt that there is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D worldwide including India which has almost taken the shape of a pandemic. The study aims to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the pregnant population of Delhi and its correlation with gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods: This prospective cross sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Dr R.M.L Hospital, New Delhi over a period of 1 year and 4 months. Four hundred term patients were enrolled randomly from amongst the patients admitted in labor room or antenatal ward at PGIMER, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 3-4ml of fasting blood samples were collected of all the enrolled women and were analysed for total serum calcium levels and serum vitamin D levels. History of presence of gestational diabetes mellitus was noted along with any treatment history. The 25(OH)D levels for each subject was recorded and correlation of vitamin D levels with gestational diabetes mellitus was analysed. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA/ Kruska Wallis test and Chi-Square test/ Fisher’s exact test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the present study was 86.25%. The overall mean serum vitamin D level was 14.06±9.43 ng/ml. Thirty five out of 37 GDM patients had hypovitaminosis D i.e. 94.59%. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among non-GDM population was 85.40%. The association between GDM and Vitamin D deficiency was statistically non- significant in the present study with p value=0.186.Conclusions: There is a very high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in pregnant females attending present institute i.e. 86.25%. Although 94.59 % of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus patients had vitamin D deficiency, there is no statistically significant association between Gestational diabetes mellitus and serum vitamin D levels