25-hydroxyvitamin D status of pregnant women is associated with the use of antenatal vitamin supplements and ambient ultraviolet radiation.
Previous research suggests prevalent vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women residing in South Australia and the Eastern Seaboard, however recent data from Perth, Western Australia (WA) is lacking. This cross-sectional study of n=209 pregnant women (36-40 weeks of gestation, 84% white Caucasian) reports on the vitamin D (25[OH]D) status of a contemporary population of pregnant women in Perth, WA, with a focus on the relative contributions of supplemental vitamin D and ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation to 25(OH)D levels. Mean (SD) season-adjusted 25(OH)D levels were 77.7 (24.6) nmol/l. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25[OH]D<50 nmol/l) was 13.9%. Ambient UV radiation levels in the 90 days preceding blood draw were significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D levels (unstandardized coefficient 2.82; 95% CI 1.77, 3.86, P<0.001). Vitamin D supplementation expressed as dose per kg of body weight was also positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D levels (unstandardized coefficient 0.744; 95% CI 0.395, 1.092, P<0.001). In conclusion, this study finds that vitamin D deficiency in a predominantly white Caucasian cohort of pregnant women is less prevalent than has been reported in other studies, providing useful information relating to supplementation and screening in this, and similar, populations.
1School of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Western Australia,Perth,Western Australia.
A P
AP
Jones
1School of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Western Australia,Perth,Western Australia.
K
K
Rueter
1School of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Western Australia,Perth,Western Australia.
A
A
Siafarikas
5Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes,Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital,Perth,Western Australia.
E-M
EM
Lim
1School of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Western Australia,Perth,Western Australia.
S L
SL
Prescott
1School of Paediatrics and Child Health,University of Western Australia,Perth,Western Australia.
D J
DJ
Palmer
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25(OH)D; UV index; gestational diabetes mellitus; pregnancy; supplementation; ultraviolet radiation; vitamin D