title: Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency and Inadequacy among Women of Childbearing Age in the United States.
abstract: Objective. To examine the prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy among US women of childbearing age. Methods. Data from 1,814 female participants (20-44 y) in the 2003-2006 NHANES were analyzed to estimate the age-adjusted prevalence and prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for vitamin D deficiency (defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <12.0 ng/mL) and inadequacy (defined as 25(OH)D: 12.0-<20.0 ng/mL). Results. The age-adjusted prevalence was 11.1% (95% CI: 8.8-14.0%) for vitamin D deficiency and 25.7% (95% CI: 22.3-29.5%) for vitamin D inadequacy. Race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic white and obesity were associated with increased risks, whereas dietary supplement use, milk consumption of ≥1 time/day, and potential sunlight exposure during May-October were associated with decreased risks for both vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy (P < 0.05). Current smoking and having histories of diabetes and cardiovascular disease were also associated with an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Among women of childbearing age, periconceptional intervention programs may focus on multiple risk factors for vitamin D deficiency and inadequacy to ultimately improve their vitamin D nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Guixiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Earl S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chaoyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Janet B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Croft