Prevalence and Predictors of Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency among Pregnant Rural Women in Bangladesh.

Faruk Ahmed,Anjan Kumar Roy,Moududur Rahman Khan,Hossein Khosravi-Boroujeni,Rubhana Raqib

doi:10.3390/nu13020449

Faruk Ahmed, Anjan Kumar Roy + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020449

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Abstract

Although adequate vitamin D status during pregnancy is essential for maternal health and to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes, limited data exist on vitamin D status and associated risk factors in pregnant rural Bangladeshi women. This study determined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, and identified associated risk factors, among these women. A total of 515 pregnant women from rural Bangladesh, gestational age ≤ 20 weeks, participated in this cross-sectional study. A separate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the risk factors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Overall, 17.3% of the pregnant women had vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D concentration <30.0 nmol/L], and 47.2% had vitamin D insufficiency [serum 25(OH)D concentration between 30–<50 nmol/L]. The risk of vitamin D insufficiency was significantly higher among nulliparous pregnant women (OR: 2.72; 95% CI: 1.75–4.23), those in their first trimester (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.39–5.19), anaemic women (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.99–2.35; p = 0.056) and women whose husbands are farmers (OR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.22–3.50). The risk of vitamin deficiency was significantly higher among younger pregnant women (<25 years; OR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.06–4.21), nulliparous women (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.34–5.25), women in their first trimester (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.12–5.79) and those with sub-optimal vitamin A status (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.28–4.11). In conclusion, hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent among pregnant rural Bangladeshi women. Parity and gestational age are the common risk factors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. A husband’s occupation and anaemia status might be important predictors of vitamin D insufficiency, while younger age and sub-optimal vitamin A status are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in this population.

Highlights

Vitamin D plays important role in bone mineralisation through the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis [1]
14% of the women were in their first trimester of pregnancy, and the rest were in their second trimester
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among pregnant rural women in Bangladesh

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D plays important role in bone mineralisation through the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis [1]. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases [3]. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with impaired muscle function [4,5], which (when combined with being overweight) may lead to sarcopenia [6]. Vitamin D has been linked with several important functions in pregnancy, including glucose homeostasis, placental function, inflammatory response and infection control [10]. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and small-for-gestational-age [11,12]

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