title: Vitamin D insufficiency in pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age in the United States.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. adit.ginde@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Adit A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ginde
authors.forename: Ashley F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mansbach
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D