Case Report

Maternal vitamin D deficiency associated with neonatal hypocalcaemic convulsions

Laxmi Camadoo¹ , Rebecca Tibbott² and Fernando Isaza³

¹  Senior Registrar in Paediatrics, Nambour hospital, Mapleton Road, Nambour, Queensland, 4560, Australia

²  ST1 in Paediatrics, Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge Rd, Southall, UB1 3EU, London, UK

³  Consultant Paediatrician, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK

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Nutrition Journal 2007, 6:23doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-23

Published:	19 September 2007

Abstract

Maternal vitamin D insufficiency is not uncommon. Infants born to mothers who are deficient in vitamin D and or calcium, usually due to cultural modifications in their diets or clothing habits, and in addition are breastfed, are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcaemia. We present a case of neonatal hypocalcaemic seizures secondary to vitamin D deficiency.

Rickets in children resulting from vitamin D deficiency is well documented. It is also becoming clear that there is a positive correlation between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and lactation and the development of rickets both in infancy and childhood. The correlation between maternal vitamin D, neonatal vitamin D and hypocalcaemia is not well documented.