Authors:
Jones AP, Rueter K, Siafarikas A, Lim EM, Prescott SL, Palmer DJ.
Authors notes:
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. 2016;7(4):350-6.
Keywords:
25(OH)D, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy,supplementation, ultraviolet radiation, UV index, vitamin D
Abstract:
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, 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.
Vitamin D supplementation expressed as dose per kg of body weight was also positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D levels.
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.