The association between Vitamin D deficiency of the mother and the newborn with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A case-control study

Background: Very few studies have evaluated the possible relationship of Vitamin D / (25(OH)D) deficiency (VDD) of the mother and the newborn with neonatal jaundice. If VDD is determined as a predisposing risk factor (RF) for neonatal jaundice and affects the frequency of its occurrence, the detection of this deficiency may prove effective in predicting the onset of neonatal jaundice but also in significantly preventing it and therefore reducing morbidity and mortality from neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a study of 246 newborns and their Greek mothers, who were born in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of Tzaneio Hospital of Piraeus, from September 2019 until January 2022. Results of total bilirubin (TBIL) and 25(OH)D vitamin levels are presented as means ± standard deviations (SD) or as frequencies and percentages. Chi-Square Test was used to find an association between maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D concentrations with TBIL. P value (P) <0.05 indicated a statistically significant association.
Results: The results of the study showed that, there does not seem to be a statistically significant correlation of VDD of both the maternal and the neonatal vitamin’s D results with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as neither newborns with a low risk of hyperbilirubinemia, nor those with a moderate and high risk of hyperbilirubinemia had a higher risk of neonatal jaundice. Accordingly, maternal VDD before delivery was not shown to affect rates of neonatal jaundice.
Conclusions: In conclusion, it was observed that newborns who themselves or their mothers have VDD are not at greater risk of the adverse effects of neonatal jaundice.