Skip to main content
PMC home page
Archives of Disease in Childhood logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood
. 1982 Oct;57(10):754–757. doi: 10.1136/adc.57.10.754

Control of vitamin D metabolism in preterm infants: feto-maternal relationships.

E E Delvin, F H Glorieux, B L Salle, L David, J P Varenne
PMCID: PMC1627903  PMID: 7138064

Abstract

To assess the relationship between maternal and fetal mineral homeostasis, serum calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D metabolite concentrations in venous cord sera from 15 preterm singletons and 3 twin pairs were compared with the levels found in maternal sera. Cord calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels were significantly higher than the respective levels in maternal samples. There was a significant relationship between the two compartments for all three analyses. Cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly lower than those observed for the mothers. Association of the cord concentration with that of the mothers was observed only for the first two metabolites. There was no relationship between the maternal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels and gestational age, calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Cord 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D correlated significantly only with cord calcium levels. Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels were within normal limits both in cord and maternal samples. Our data suggest that after 31 weeks of gestation: (1) calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate cross the placental barrier against a concentration gradient; (2) the fetus depends on the maternal supply for 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 24,25 dihydroxyvitamin D; (3) the feto-placental unit synthesizes 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D according to fetal needs.

Full text

PDF
755

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adams N. D., Garthwaite T. L., Gray R. W., Hagen T. C., Lemann J., Jr The interrelationships among prolactin, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and parathyroid hormone in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979 Oct;49(4):628–630. doi: 10.1210/jcem-49-4-628. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bogden J. D., Thind I. S., Kemp F. W., Caterini H. Plasma concentrations of calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc in maternal and cord blood and their relationship to low birth weight. J Lab Clin Med. 1978 Sep;92(3):455–462. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bouillon R., Van Assche F. A., Van Baelen H., Heyns W., De Moor P. Influence of the vitamin D-binding protein on the serum concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Significance of the free 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentration. J Clin Invest. 1981 Mar;67(3):589–596. doi: 10.1172/JCI110072. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bouillon R., Van Baelen H., De Moor P. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and its binding protein in maternal and cord serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1977 Oct;45(4):679–684. doi: 10.1210/jcem-45-4-679. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Care A. D. Calcium homeostasis in the fetus. J Dev Physiol. 1980 Feb-Apr;2(1-2):85–99. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. David L., Anast C. S. Calcium metabolism in newborn infants. The interrelationship of parathyroid function and calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus metabolism in normal, "sick," and hypocalcemic newborns. J Clin Invest. 1974 Aug;54(2):287–296. doi: 10.1172/JCI107764. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Delvin E. E., Glorieux F. H. Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration in hypophosphatemic vitamin D-resistant rickets. Calcif Tissue Int. 1981;33(2):173–175. doi: 10.1007/BF02409431. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dubowitz L. M., Dubowitz V., Goldberg C. Clinical assessment of gestational age in the newborn infant. J Pediatr. 1970 Jul;77(1):1–10. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(70)80038-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Eisman J. A., Hamstra A. J., Kream B. E., DeLuca H. F. A sensitive, precise, and convenient method for determination of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in human plasma. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1976 Sep;176(1):235–243. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(76)90161-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Fleischman A. R., Rosen J. F., Cole J., Smith C. M., Deluca H. F. Maternal and fetal serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels at term. J Pediatr. 1980 Oct;97(4):640–642. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(80)80030-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gertner J. M., Glassman M. S., Coustan D. R., Goodman D. B. Fetomaternal vitamin D relationships at term. J Pediatr. 1980 Oct;97(4):637–640. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(80)80029-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Gillette M. E., Insogna K. L., Lewis A. M., Baran D. T. Influence of pregnancy on immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels. Calcif Tissue Int. 1982 Jan;34(1):9–12. doi: 10.1007/BF02411200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Haddad J. G., Chyu K. J. Competitive protein-binding radioassay for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1971 Dec;33(6):992–995. doi: 10.1210/jcem-33-6-992. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Haddad J. G., Jr, Min C., Mendelsohn M., Slatopolsky E., Hahn T. J. Competitive protein-binding radioassay of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in sera from normal and anephric subjects. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1977 Aug;182(2):390–395. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(77)90519-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hillman L. S., Haddad J. G. Human perinatal vitamin D metabolism. I. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in maternal and cord blood. J Pediatr. 1974 May;84(5):742–749. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(74)80024-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hillman L. S., Slatopolsky E., Haddad J. G. Perinatal vitamin D metabolism. IV. Maternal and cord serum 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1978 Nov;47(5):1073–1077. doi: 10.1210/jcem-47-5-1073. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kumar R., Abboud C. F., Riggs B. L. The effect of elevated prolactin levels on plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and intestinal absorption of calcium. Mayo Clin Proc. 1980 Jan;55(1):51–53. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kumar R., Cohen W. R., Silva P., Epstein F. H. Elevated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D plasma levels in normal human pregnancy and lactation. J Clin Invest. 1979 Feb;63(2):342–344. doi: 10.1172/JCI109308. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lund B., Selnes A. Plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels in pregnancy and lactation. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1979 Oct;92(2):330–335. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.0920330. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Marx S. J., Swart E. G., Jr, Hamstra A. J., DeLuca H. F. Normal intrauterine development of the fetus of a woman receiving extraordinarily high doses of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1980 Nov;51(5):1138–1142. doi: 10.1210/jcem-51-5-1138. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Pettifor J. M., Mehta A. E., Delvin E. E., Glorieux F. H. Effects of hyperprolactinemia on calciotropic hormones. Med Biol. 1980 Dec;58(6):319–321. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Pitkin R. M., Cruikshank D. P., Schauberger C. W., Reynolds W. A., Williams G. A., Hargis G. K. Fetal calcitropic hormones and neonatal calcium homeostasis. Pediatrics. 1980 Jul;66(1):77–82. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Pottgen P., Davis E. R. Ionized calcium--its relationship to albumin and total protein. Am J Clin Pathol. 1977 Mar;67(3):311–312. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/67.3.311a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Salle B. L., Berthezene F., Glorieux F. H., Delvin E. E., Berland M., David L., Varenne J. P., Putet G. Hypoparathyroidism during pregnancy: treatment with calcitriol. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Apr;52(4):810–813. doi: 10.1210/jcem-52-4-810. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Steichen J. J., Tsang R. C., Gratton T. L., Hamstra A., DeLuca H. F. Vitamin D homeostasis in the perinatal period: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in maternal, cord, and neonatal blood. N Engl J Med. 1980 Feb 7;302(6):315–319. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198002073020603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Tsang R. C., Chen I. W., Friedman M. A., Chen I. Neonatal parathyroid function: role of gestational age and postnatal age. J Pediatr. 1973 Nov;83(5):728–738. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(73)80363-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Weisman Y., Occhipinti M., Knox G., Reiter E., Root A. Concentrations of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in paired maternal-cord sera. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1978 Mar 15;130(6):704–707. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(78)90332-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Wieland P., Fischer J. A., Trechsel U., Roth H. R., Vetter K., Schneider H., Huch A. Perinatal parathyroid hormone, vitamin D metabolites, and calcitonin in man. Am J Physiol. 1980 Nov;239(5):E385–E390. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1980.239.5.E385. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES