Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with pregnancy-related symptoms including fatigue, poor sleep quality, and musculoskeletal pain. Pregnant Black and Hispanic women are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency compared with pregnant non-Hispanic White women. Data are limited on the association of vitamin D deficiency with quality of life (QOL) among pregnant women. This study examined the association of serum 25(OH)D and pregnancy-related symptoms with QOL among pregnant predominantly minority women. Using a cross-sectional design, 119 pregnant Black and Hispanic women completed surveys and had blood drawn for serum 25(OH)D levels between 24–32 weeks gestation. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that total pregnancy-related symptoms and serum 25(OH)D level were significant predictors of QOL, while controlling for covariates. Higher total pregnancy-related symptoms and lower serum 25(OH)D predicted poorer physical QOL. Screening for pregnancy-related symptoms and vitamin D levels among childbearing women might be important nursing interventions to improve physical QOL.
Highlights
Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 20 ng/mL, compared with nonHispanic White women [1]
These physical symptoms are common in both pregnancy and vitamin D deficiency, and significantly affected the physical quality of life among women in our study
This study provides some evidence that vitamin D supplementation may be a potential treatment for pregnant women, Black and Hispanic women, who have deficient levels of serum 25(OH) D to address potential ailments such as back pain and poor sleep quality
Summary
Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 20 ng/mL, compared with nonHispanic White women [1]. There is evidence that people with naturally dark skin tones require at least three times longer exposure to the sun to make the same amount of vitamin D as a person with a white skin tone [1]. Physical symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep quality, musculoskeletal pains, and urinary incontinence are more common during pregnancy due to the physiological changes of the body [4]. These symptoms have been associated with vitamin D deficiency [5,6,7,8]
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