title: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common during pregnancy.
abstract: The objective was to determine the incidence of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency in African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian pregnant women. Blood samples were taken from 154 African-American, 194 Hispanic, and 146 Caucasian women at <14 weeks of gestation; 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean 25(OH)D levels in African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian pregnant women were 15.5 ± 7.2 (standard deviation), 24.1 ± 8.7, 29.0 ± 8.5 ng/mL, respectively. Ninety-seven percent of African-Americans, 81% of Hispanics, and 67% of Caucasians were deficient (25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL or <50 nmol/L) or insufficient (25(OH)D levels ≥ 20 ng/mL or <32 ng/mL or ≥ 50 nmol/L or <80 nmol/L). Of these pregnant women, 82% had vitamin D levels <32 ng/mL (<80 ng/mL). In logistic regression models, race was the most important risk factor for vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. African-American women and Hispanic women were more likely to have vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency than Caucasian women. Furthermore, primigravid women were more at risk for vitamin D insufficiency. This study demonstrates widespread vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant females living at a southern latitude. African-Americans are at greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425-0619, USA. johnsodo@musc.edu
authors.forename: Donna D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hulsey
authors.forename: Rebecca B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: Myla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hollis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D