Vitamin D status in non-pregnant women of reproductive age: a study in Southern Thailand

Vitamin D inadequacy is a global problem in all age groups. Although there are various studies of vitamin D status in pregnant women in Southeast Asia, to date there are few studies from Southeast Asia examining vitamin D status in non-pregnant women of reproductive age. To examine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) in healthy non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Southern Thailand, 120 healthy non-pregnant women aged 18- 42 years were enrolled. Demographic and lifestyle data relevant to vitamin D assessment (sunlight exposure, nutritional intake, type of dress, sunscreen use) and biochemical studies (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25OHD, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphate) were obtained. VDI was classified as serum 25OHD < 20 ng/mL. The average serum 25OHD level was 23.1 +/- 6.0 ng/mL. The overall prevalence of VDI was 34.1%. The average dietary intake of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D and the average duration of sunlight exposure per week were not significantly different between the VDI women and the vitamin D sufficient (VDS) women. Logistic regression analysis found that the significant risk factors for VDI were greater body mass index and higher family income (p-values 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of VDI in non-pregnant women was high at 34%. As the dietary sources of vitamin D are limited and cutaneous vitamin D synthesis is limited by avoidance of sunlight exposure, vitamin D fortification in common daily foods would be an alternative option to reach the recommended vitamin D intake generally of at least 800 IU/day.