Vitamin D insufficiency in pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated vitamin D insufficiency in a nationally representative sample of women and assessed the role of vitamin supplementation.


METHODS
We conducted secondary analysis of 928 pregnant and 5173 nonpregnant women aged 13-44 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006.


RESULTS
The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level was 65 nmol/L for pregnant women and 59 nmol/L for nonpregnant women. The prevalence of 25(OH)D<75 nmol/L was 69% and 78%, respectively. Pregnant women in the first trimester had similar 25(OH)D levels as nonpregnant women (55 vs 59 nmol/L), despite a higher proportion taking vitamin D supplementation (61% vs 32%). However, first-trimester women had lower 25(OH)D levels than third-trimester women (80 nmol/L), likely from shorter duration of supplement use.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent and adult women of childbearing age have a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency. Current prenatal multivitamins (400 IU vitamin D) helped to raise serum 25(OH)D levels, but higher doses and longer duration may be required.
Ginde
Adit A
AA
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. adit.ginde@ucdenver.edu
Sullivan
Ashley F
AF
Mansbach
Jonathan M
JM
Camargo
Carlos A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D