PLASMA VITAMIN D STATUS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN OF PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHAWA, PAKISTAN: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess plasma vitamin D status and its association with dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) in primary gravida women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Gynecology, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar from January to March 2016. Primary gravida women (n=88) in their first trimester attending antenatal clinic at LRH were included. Socio-demographic and anthropometric measures were recorded using standard methods. Nutritional intake was assessed using 24-hours dietary recall. Blood samples were collected to assess plasma vitamin D status through ELISA. RESULTS: Median plasma 25-OH vitamin D levels were 41.71 ηg/mL (IQR=17.29). Only 8 (9.09%) women had vitamin D deficiency ( 30 ηg/mL) levels of plasma vitamin D. Dietary intake of vitamin A and thiamine were significantly different between the three groups (sufficient/insufficient/deficient). No significant correlation was found between plasma vitamin D and anthropometric and dietary variables. Only socioeconomic status (p=0.03) was significantly associated with plasma vitamin D status. CONCLUSION: In our study, plasma vitamin D status was not significantly associated with dietary intake and BMI in primary gravida women. However, due to relatively small sample size, results may be taken with caution and large-scale study is recommended to establish the relationship of plasma vitamin D status with dietary intake and BMI in antenatal women.