Vitamin D Status and Its Determinants in Healthy Slovenian Pregnant Women.
OBJECTIVE
Vitamin D deficiency is a common underdiagnosed condition. The aim of this was to analyze the status of vitamin D and its determinants in healthy Slovenian pregnant women.


METHODS
A total of 132 volunteer pregnant women completed a questionnaire including baseline demographics, food frequency, physical activities; anthropometrical measurements, body mass index and levels of 25-(OH)D in serum were performed during the third trimester, and dietary intakes were assessed during the 27-28th week of gestation.


RESULTS
Vitamin D deficiency was present in 14% while insufficiency was present in 41% of women. The risk for inadequacy was higher in women older than 30 years (p = 0.01), in those with less frequent outdoor physical activity (p = 0.01) and in pregnancies during the low sun exposure season (p = 0.04). Insufficiency was not significantly more frequent in less educated women, unemployed and in those living in urban area. The median value of vitamin D from habitual dietary intake was 1.5 µg/day (range 0.1-13.4) and did not influence 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (p = 0.91).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy was 55% and was dependent on age, season and outdoor physical activities. The results suggest a discrepancy between vitamin D intake through habitual diet and the reference needs.
Department of Neonatology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Aneta
A
Soltirovska Salamon
Evgen
E
Benedik
Borut
B
Bratanič
Manca
M
Velkavrh
Irena
I
Rogelj
Nataša
N
Fidler Mis
Bojana
B
Bogovič Matijašić
Darja
D
Paro-Panjan
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D