TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of helminth infections during pregnancy on maternal and newborn Vitamin D and on birth outcomes
AU - Berry, Sèyigbéna P.Déo Gracias
AU - Honkpèhedji, Yabo Josiane
AU - Ludwig, Esther
AU - Mahmoudou, Saïdou
AU - Prodjinotho, Ulrich Fabien
AU - Adamou, Rafiou
AU - Nouatin, Odilon P.
AU - Adégbitè, Bayode R.
AU - Dejon-Agobe, Jean Claude
AU - Mba, Romuald Beh
AU - Maloum, Moustapha
AU - Nkoma, Anne Marie Mouima
AU - Zinsou, Jeannot Fréjus
AU - Luty, Adrian J.F.
AU - Esen, Meral
AU - Adégnika, Ayôla Akim
AU - Prazeres da Costa, Clarissa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Poor birth outcomes in low- and middle income countries are associated with maternal vitamin D deficiency and chronic helminth infections. Here, we investigated whether maternal Schistosoma haematobium affects maternal or cord vitamin D status as well as birth outcomes. In a prospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women conducted in Lambaréné, Gabon, we diagnosed maternal parasitic infections in blood, urine and stool. At delivery we measured vitamin D in maternal and cord blood. S. haematobium, soil-transmitted helminths, and microfilariae were found at prevalences of 30.2%, 13.0%, and 8.8%, respectively. Insufficient vitamin D and calcium levels were found in 28% and 15% of mothers, and in 11.5% and 1.5% of newborns. Mothers with adequate vitamin D had lower risk of low birthweight babies (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.52, p = 0.01), whilst offspring of primipars had low cord vitamin D levels, and low vitamin D levels increased the risk of maternal inflammation. Maternal filariasis was associated with low calcium levels, but other helminth infections affected neither vitamin D nor calcium levels in either mothers or newborns. Healthy birth outcomes require maintenance of adequate vitamin D and calcium levels. Chronic maternal helminth infections do not disrupt those levels in a semi-rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
AB - Poor birth outcomes in low- and middle income countries are associated with maternal vitamin D deficiency and chronic helminth infections. Here, we investigated whether maternal Schistosoma haematobium affects maternal or cord vitamin D status as well as birth outcomes. In a prospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women conducted in Lambaréné, Gabon, we diagnosed maternal parasitic infections in blood, urine and stool. At delivery we measured vitamin D in maternal and cord blood. S. haematobium, soil-transmitted helminths, and microfilariae were found at prevalences of 30.2%, 13.0%, and 8.8%, respectively. Insufficient vitamin D and calcium levels were found in 28% and 15% of mothers, and in 11.5% and 1.5% of newborns. Mothers with adequate vitamin D had lower risk of low birthweight babies (aOR = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.52, p = 0.01), whilst offspring of primipars had low cord vitamin D levels, and low vitamin D levels increased the risk of maternal inflammation. Maternal filariasis was associated with low calcium levels, but other helminth infections affected neither vitamin D nor calcium levels in either mothers or newborns. Healthy birth outcomes require maintenance of adequate vitamin D and calcium levels. Chronic maternal helminth infections do not disrupt those levels in a semi-rural setting in sub-Saharan Africa.
KW - Helminth infections
KW - Maternal
KW - Newborn vitamin D
KW - Pregnancy outcomes
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85197173435&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-65232-9
DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-65232-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 38937587
AN - SCOPUS:85197173435
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 14
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 14845
ER -