Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study in Swedish Women from Early Pregnancy to Seven Months Postpartum

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 3;11(3):e0150385. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150385. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy may have negative consequences for the health of both the mother and child. Cross-sectional studies in childbearing women suggest that vitamin D levels are low during pregnancy, but few studies have followed the same women during pregnancy and postpartum. The aims of this study were to longitudinally assess vitamin D status during pregnancy and postpartum and identify the factors associated with vitamin D status in pregnant women in northern Sweden. Between September 2006 and March 2009, 184 women were consecutively recruited at five antenatal primary care clinics. Blood was sampled, and dietary intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire with 66 food items/food aggregates and questions on the intake of vitamin supplements at gestational weeks 12, 21, and 35, as well as at 12 and 29 weeks after birth. Plasma 25(OH) vitamin D levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. At least one-third of the women had 25(OH) vitamin D levels <50 nmol/L on at least one sampling occasion. Plasma levels increased slightly over the gestation period and peaked in late pregnancy. The levels reverted to the baseline levels after birth. Multivariate analysis showed that gestational and postpartum week, season, dietary intake of vitamin D, and vitamin supplementation were significantly related to plasma levels. There was also an influence of season on the longitudinal concentration patterns. In conclusion, more than one-third of the women studied had low 25(OH) vitamin D levels, and gestational and postpartum week was related to 25(OH) vitamin D levels after adjustment for season and vitamin D intake.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet
  • Diet Records
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy*
  • Seasons
  • Sunlight
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Västerbotten County Council (ALF). The authors who received the funding were H. Sandström and J. Hultdin. Construction and maintenance of the diet database in VIP was supported by the Swedish Research Council and Västerbotten County Council. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.