PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND INSUFFIENCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PREGNANT WOMEN OF NORTHERN SPAIN

Background and objectives: The vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with adverse events during pregnancy and the postnatal child development. In this study we examined plasma levels of vitamin D [25(011)03] and factors associated with plasma deficiency and insufficiency in pregnant women in northern Spain. Methods: We analyzed data from 453 pregnant women participating in the INMA-Asturias cohort in which was determined 25(OH)D3 by high resolution liquid chromatography. Dietary intake of vitamin D was estimated through a food frequency validated questionnaire. We estimated the prevalence of deficiency [25(011)03 <20 ng / ml] and insufficiency [20 to 29.9 ng / ml] of vitamin D and analyzed the distribution of 25(OH)D3 per month extraction and other factors. Results: The mean concentration of 25(OH)D3 was 27.7 ng/ml (range 6.4 to 69.5). 27.4% of pregnant women had deficient levels and 35.3% inssuficient. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were higher in the summer months (median 34.1 ng/ml). There was a higher percentage of deficiency in pregnant women with overweight/obesity (34.5%) and under 25 years (47.8%). The average daily intake of vitamin D was 5.48 mg/day (SD 2.82 range 1.09 to 32.52). Intake during the months of October to May was associated with levels of 25(OH)D3. 8.6% reported taking supplements of vitamin D. Conclusions: We detected a high proportion of pregnant women with deficient or insufficient vitamin D levels, especially in the months of October to May, in pregnant women with overweight and obesity, and the youngest.