Vitamin D deficiency is common among pregnant women in rural Victoria.
There is increasing evidence to implicate vitamin D deficiency in a variety of diseases. Previous advice has been to screen high-risk pregnant women. This study shows that, despite abundant sunshine and latitude consistent with year-long vitamin D synthesis, 65.5% of a largely low-risk antenatal population in rural Victoria have insufficient vitamin D. Over 5.0% of women have vitamin D levels that pose a significant neonatal and adult health risk. These findings support routine antenatal testing of vitamin D levels.
Teale
Glyn R
GR
Rural Clinical School, University of Melbourne and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Goulburn Valley Health, Victoria, Australia. glyn.teale@gvhealth.org.au
Cunningham
Chris E
CE
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*