Advances in Biomedical Sciences 2018; 3(6): 122-128 http://www.openscienceonline.com/journal/abs Vitamin D and Calcium Status in Pregnant Women in Western-Libya Ashraf Mohamed Albakoush 1 , Azab Elsayed Azab 2, * 1 Department of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medical Technology, Sabratha University, Surman, Libya 2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabratha University, Sabratha, Libya Email address * Corresponding author To cite this article Ashraf Mohamed Albakoush, Azab Elsayed Azab. Vitamin D and Calcium Status in Pregnant Women in Western-Libya. Advances in Biomedical Sciences. Vol. 3, No. 6, 2018, pp. 122-128. Received: November 18, 2018; Accepted: December 10, 2018; Published: January 18, 2019 Abstract Vitamin D deficiency is common during pregnancy especially among high-risk groups, including vegetarians, women with limited sun exposure. Severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with biochemical evidence of disordered skeletal homeostasis. The present study aims to evaluate the status of vitamin D and calcium ions in pregnant women in Western-Libya. A total of 79 pregnant women were included in the present study. 21, 34, and 24 pregnant women were in the 1 st trimester, the 2 nd trimester, and the 3 rd trimester of pregnancy, respectively. A complete data record was obtained including name, age, duration of pregnancy, weight, height, healthy diet, and family history of chronic diseases using standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects for measurement of serum vitamin D and calcium. Venous blood was drawn in plain blood tube containing clot activator and immediately centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain serum and immediately analyzed. A significant decrease in vitamin D level was recorded in pregnant women as compared with a non pregnant woman. The highest level of serum calcium was found in the 2 nd trimester and the highest level of vitamin D was found in the 3 rd trimester. 84.8% of study group had a vitamin D level less than 20ng/ml and 46.8% had a calcium level less than 8.4mg/dl. The levels of vitamin D were less than 20ng/ml in the 1 st , 2 nd , and the 3 rd trimesters of pregnancy as 95.2%, 91.2%, and 66.7%, respectively. And calcium levels were less than 8.4 mg/dl in the 1 st , 2 nd , and the 3 rd trimesters of pregnancy as 61.9%, 35.3%, and 50%, respectively. Also, the study revealed a significant correlation between vitamin D and serum calcium levels, but no correlation between vitamin D and BMI or between serum calcium and BMI were observed in pregnant women. Despite the large amount of sunshine in Libya, these results show that pregnant women in our region are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. So, we need to focus our emphasis on maternal nutrition, especially adequate vitamin D and calcium intake, which may pave way in the long run for prevention of future bone health related conditions like osteoporosis. Keywords Calcium Status, Vitamin D Status, Pregnant Women, Western Libya 1. Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin obtained largely from consuming fortified milk or juice, fish oils, and dietary supplements. It also is produced endogenously in the skin with exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D that is ingested or produced in the skin must undergo hydroxylation in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), then further hydroxylation primarily in the kidney to the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. This active form is essential to promote absorption of calcium from the gut and enables normal bone mineralization and growth. During pregnancy, severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with biochemical evidence of disordered skeletal homeostasis, congenital rickets, and fractures in the newborn [1, 2]. However, according to the vitamin D Council, pregnancy is a known risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Previous research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy