DR. USHA KUMARI

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during pregnancy has been associated with multiple adverse outcomes of pregnancy like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, low birth weight, preterm delivery, and cesarean section. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is higher in females especially during pregnancy, breast feeding & child bearing age. Studies have reported VDD during pregnancy ranging from 14% to more than ninety percent in our country. Several factors like age, nutrition, socio-cultural practices, geographical conditions etc. contribute to vitamin D deficiency. The lack of awareness about vitamin D is one of the biggest factors. Objective: To assess the level of awareness about Vitamin D and its relation to pregnancy among pregnant ladies. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 pregnant females using a self administered questionnaire. The awareness level of participants was labeled as Poor, Average & Good according to the marks obtained. Statistical analysis was done using Excel Analysis Toolpak. Results: The age of participants ranged from 19 years to 34 years (mean 24.85 ± 2.98). Majority of the participants were in the age group 20-25 years (66.79%). Most of the participants were living in rural areas (77.5%) while 22.5% belonged to urban areas. The mean score of all the participants was 6.25 with SD 2.29. Educational status showed a linear relationship with the awareness level. Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness about vitamin D. Awareness campaigns will reduce vit-D deficiency and improve pregnancy outcomes.   Keywords: Assessment, Awareness, Pregnancy, Relation, Vitamin D, Women.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during pregnancy is known to affect the neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted in pregnant women with the aim of assessing the prevalence of VDD in pregnant women and its effect on expecting mother and newborn. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done over a period of 2 years. 25(OH)D3 level was tested by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay in clinical biochemistry laboratory. Subjects were classified into Vitamin D-deficient, insufficient, and sufficient group. Results: Mean level of Vitamin D in the study population was 21.82±12.95. The level of Vitamin D was found to be sufficient only in 28% (28/100) of subjects. A significant correlation was observed between newborn birth weight and serum Vitamin D level of the mother. Appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (APGAR) score was moderately and severely depressed in 17% and 3% of babies, respectively. Pre-eclampsia was observed in 8% (8/100) of the subjects. A significant correlation was observed between the occurrence of pre-eclampsia and maternal Vitamin D. APGAR score was found to be significantly associated with serum Vitamin D. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of VDD in pregnant women. VDD in pregnancy is associated with several complications to the expectant mother as well as the fetus. Complications such as pre-eclampsia, low birth weight (LBW) babies, and low APGAR score were observed in the present study. There is a need of extensive clinical research on the impact of VDD in pregnancy on mother and fetal health.

Abstract Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing global concern because of its potential to impair human health, particularly with regard to fetal development. However, the origins of prenatal MP exposure and its effects on fetal development have not been well studied. This study aimed to provide a systematic review of the literature regarding the impact of microplastics on pregnancy and fetal development. PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from 2010 until March 2024. Original publications exploring the impact of microplastics on pregnancy and fetal development were included in the study. After selecting papers, two independent reviewers extracted data regarding study characteristics, microplastics identified, and reproductive impacts. The quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklists for Studies created by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Twelve studies, including 234 subjects, were selected from a total of 2,809 citations for the final qualitative analysis. Articles were published between 2021 and 2024, and most were conducted in China. The results of the included studies confirmed the existence of microplastics with varying sizes (2.1 to 100 micrometers) in the placenta and the fetal body. Studies revealed correlations between lifestyle choices and the presence of microplastics in the placenta. They also reported correlations between the level of microplastics and diminished microbiome diversity, reduced birthweights, affected gestational age, and fetal growth and development. Microplastics may be detrimental to a developing fetus during pregnancy. Nonetheless, more thorough research is required to comprehend the impact of microplastic exposure on pregnancy and fetal development.