title: High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a public health problem worldwide due to its important role in health and disease. The present work is intended to examine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant Saudi women and related risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 160 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and maternal characteristics were collected and vitamin D intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. Weight and height were measured using standardized methods. Vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) and insufficiency (25(OH)D = 50-74 nmol/L) were reported in 50% and 43.8% of the study sample, respectively. Median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 49.9 nmol/L. Adequate vitamin D intake (≥600 IU/day) was reported among only 8.1% of pregnant women. Age group, educational level, sun exposure frequency and daytime and daily practice of exercise were significantly associated with vitamin D status. Overall, vitamin D deficiency was common among pregnant Saudi women in Riyadh. Steps should be taken to address the current situation, including increased sunlight exposure, consumption of fatty fish, and vitamin D supplements.
authors: Nutrition and Food Science Department, College of Home Economics, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 27938, Riyadh 11427, Saudi Arabia. naalfaris@pnu.edu.sa.
authors: Nora A
authors: NA
authors: Al-Faris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004522:Educational Status; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Saudi Arabia; deficiency; pregnancy; vitamin D; women