Vitamin D status and the prevalence of deficiency in lactating women from eight provinces and municipalities in China.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency has become prevalent worldwide in recent years. However, less evidence was available for lactating women.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to understand vitamin D status and prevalence of deficiency in lactating women and associated risk factors for vitamin D deficiency from eight provinces and municipalities in China.


METHODS
Lactating women within 1-10 months postpartum were recruited in 2011-2013 from eight provinces and municipalities in China. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration. Standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on season, living site, ethnicity and socio-demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Totally 2004 lactating women were recruited. The median (p25, p75) of 25(OH)D was 15.8 (10.5, 24.0) nmol/L. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 85.3% as 25(OH)D <30nmol/L. Serum 25(OH)D levels of lactating women were significantly lower during October-January (14.0nmol/L) than during February-May (18.0nmol/L) (P<0.001), and were significantly higher in Dai ethnicity (22.5nmol/L) than in Hui ethnicity (Chinese Muslims) (9.0nmol/L) (P<0.001). For every 10,000 CNY annual income per capita increasing, serum 25(OH)D levels significantly increased 1.04 times (P<0.001). The odds of vitamin D deficiency in winter were 2.56 times higher than that in spring (OR 2.56, 95%CI: 1.91-3.43).


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D deficiency of lactating women was highly prevalent in the eight provinces and municipalities in China. It is urgent to study the strategy and intervention ways for improving vitamin D status of lactating women, especially for certain population groups during low sunlight exposure season.
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.|Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China PR.
Yao
Y
Zhao
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.|Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China PR.
Yingjie
Y
Yu
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.|Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China PR.
Hong
H
Li
Beijing Dongcheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Zhirong
Z
Chang
Beijing Shunyi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Yongjin
Y
Li
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Yifan
Y
Duan
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Jie
J
Wang
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Shan
S
Jiang
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Zhenyu
Z
Yang
National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China PR.
Shi-An
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8953-9472
SA
Yin
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; 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