*YASMEEN NAUMAN, **AZRA SULTANA, ***ASMA IQBAL

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the efficacy of vitamin D3 in relieving backache and leg cramps in pregnant women.

Material & method: An observational study (case-series) was carried out on fifty pregnant patients attending obstetric out patient department over the year of 2004 in Obs and Gynae unit II of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The selection criteria includes all pregnant women single or multiple pregnancy having gestational age between 12th to 37th week with no clinical evidence of any other medical or surgical disease affecting bone mineralization. Diagnosis of calcium deficiency was based on clinical signs and symptoms.

Results: 50 pregnant women were included in this study. The age of patient varies between 15 to 40 years. Out of 50 patients 30 had complaints of backache and leg cramps both. 15 patients had backache only and 5 patients suffered from leg cramps. Vitamin D3 in the form of injection INDROP-D 1 ampoule was given orally to these patients. 35 (70%) cases became symptoms free. 7 (14%) lost to follow up and 8 (16%) cases remain complaining of their symptoms.

Conclusion: The study revealed that reduction in maternal bone density especially in 3rd trimester is a major cause of backache and leg cramps. Prescription of Vitamin D3 also called sunshine hormone results in prevention and treatment of osteopenia, osteoporosis and hypocalcemia and this leads to relief of symptoms. This can be target of future studies to corroborate the hypothesis " Better to be safe than sorry"

Key words: Vitamin D, backache, leg cramps during pregnancy

For Full text contact to:
Prof. Dr. Farah Mansuri
editor@annals-ashkmdc.org

*Assistant Professor,
**Professor/Incharge Gynae II
***PG Student, KMDC & Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi.