title: Prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D status during pregnancy.
abstract: Low maternal vitamin D status has been associated with reduced intrauterine long bone growth and shorter gestation, decreased birth weight, as well as reduced childhood bone-mineral accrual. Despite data from other countries indicating low maternal vitamin D status is common during pregnancy, there is a dearth of information about vitamin D status during pregnancy in the Irish female population. Therefore, we prospectively assessed vitamin D nutritive status and the prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D status in a cohort of Irish pregnant women. The mean (SD) daily intake of vitamin D by the group of pregnant women was 3.6 (1.9) microg/day. None of the women achieved the recommended daily vitamin D intake value for Irish pregnant women (10 microg/day). Taking all three trimesters collectively, 14.3-23.7% and 34.3-52.6% of Irish women had vitamin D deficiency (serum 25 (OH) D <25 nmol/l) and insufficiency (serum 25 (OH) D 25-50 nmol/l), respectively during pregnancy. Both the levels of serum 25 (OH) D and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/adequacy were dramatically influenced by season, with status being lowest during the extended winter period and best during the extended summer period. These findings show that inadequate vitamin D status is common in Irish pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Cashman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D