Vitamin D deficiency amongst Pakistani women in Oslo

To evaluate the vitamin D status in pregnant Pakistani women living in Oslo, we measured levels of serum calcidiol, calcitriol, vitamin D binding protein (DBP), osteocalcin, free calcium (Ca2+), phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH). Thirty Pakistani and 23 Norwegian women who delivered vaginally after uncomplicated pregnancies were included. The serum levels of calcidiol were significantly lower in the Pakistani group (p > 0.0001) as compared with the Norwegians, the mean values being 15.1 nmol/1 and 43.1 nmol/1, respectively. PTH levels were above 5.5 pmol/1 in 13 of the Pakistanis, none of the Norwegians. There were no differences in calculated free calcitriol, free calcium and inorganic phosphorus between the groups. Alkaline phosphatase was high, while osteocalcin was low in both groups, but there were no significant differences between the groups. This study shows that there is a widespread vitamin D deficiency amongst pregnant Pakistani women living in Oslo, indicating the need for vitamin D supplementation to these women and their children.