Abstract
BackgroundVitamin A deficiency is considered as one of the public health problems among pregnant women worldwide. Population representative data on vitamin A status in pregnancy have not previously been published from Iran.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to publish data on vitamin A status in pregnant women in all the provinces of Iran in 2001, including urban and rural areas, and to describe the association of vitamin A status with maternal age, gestational age, and parity.DesignThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 3,270 healthy pregnant women from the entire country, 2,631 with gestational age ≤36 weeks, and 639 with gestational age >36 weeks. Vitamin A status was determined in serum using high-performance liquid chromatography.ResultRetinol levels corresponding to deficiency were detected in 6.6% (<0.36 µmol/L) and 18% had insufficient vitamin A levels (≥0.36–<0.7 µmol/L). Suboptimal level of serum retinol was observed in 55.3% of the pregnant women (0.7–1.4 µmol/L). Only about 20% of the women had optimal values (>1.4 µmol/L). The level of serum retinol was lower in older pregnant women (p=0.008), and at higher gestational age (p=0.009). High vitamin A levels were observed in pregnant women in the central areas of Iran and the lowest values in those in the southern areas of Iran.ConclusionsThe vitamin A status was good in 2001 but should be closely monitored also in the future. About 25% of pregnant women had a vitamin A status diagnosed as insufficient or deficient (<0.7 µmol/L). The mean serum retinol decreased as the gestational age increased. The clinical significance of this finding should be further investigated, followed by a careful risk group approach to supplementation during pregnancy.
Highlights
Vitamin A deficiency is considered as one of the public health problems among pregnant women worldwide
Deficiency was mainly seen in regions 2, 5, 7, 8, and 11
Using the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-offs for national prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, Iran should by this standard be considered a country with severe vitamin A insufficiency prevalence (B0.7 mmol/L) in 2001
Summary
Vitamin A deficiency is considered as one of the public health problems among pregnant women worldwide. Population representative data on vitamin A status in pregnancy have not previously been published from Iran. Objectives: The aim of this study was to publish data on vitamin A status in pregnant women in all the provinces of Iran in 2001, including urban and rural areas, and to describe the association of vitamin A status with maternal age, gestational age, and parity. Suboptimal level of serum retinol was observed in 55.3% of the pregnant women (0.7Á1.4 mmol/L). The level of serum retinol was lower in older pregnant women (p 00.008), and at higher gestational age (p 00.009). High vitamin A levels were observed in pregnant women in the central areas of Iran and the lowest values in those in the southern areas of Iran. About 25% of pregnant women had a vitamin A status diagnosed as insufficient or deficient (B0.7 mmol/L). The clinical significance of this finding should be further investigated, followed by a careful risk group approach to supplementation during pregnancy
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