Abstract
The AIM of our study was to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and age, body weight before pregnancy and during the screening and the term of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 547 unselected pregnant Bulgarian women, mean age 30 ± 5 years, median 30 years (18-47 years). The distribution of pregnant women according to their age is as follows: 18-22 y – 33 (6%), 23-27 y – 115 (21%), 28-33 y – 219 (40%), 33-37 y – 128 (23.4%), 38-42 y – 46 (8%), 43-47 y – 6 (1.1%). The allocation according to trimesters of pregnancy was: first trimester - 111 (20.3%), second trimester - 275 (50.4%), and third trimester - 161 (29.3%). In the current study we introduced four categories of 25 (OH) D - <10, 10-20, 20-30 and >30 ng/mL. We evaluated the body weight prior to conception and during pregnancy. The peripheral levels of 25 (OH) D were investigated using a standard assay in a central laboratory on the day of the sampling. RESULTS: We found significant correlation between vitamin D levels and age (P < 0.0001), negative correlation with the BMI prior to conception (P < 0.001) and at the time of the screening (P < 0.0001), but no significant differences among the three trimesters concerning vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of vitamin D among pregnant Bulgarian women are within the span of mild insufficiency, probably due to the normal BMI before and during the pregnancy. We noticed that with the increase of age, the more mature pregnant women have more responsible behavior and follow the advice of their obstetrician/gynecologist.
Highlights
In the winter of 2012 Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology undertook a cross-sectional nested study on the levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) among 2033 Bulgarians in 12 cities and the adjacent villages [1]
In Bulgaria the food is not boosted with vitamin D and the majority of the adult population in this study have moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency
A lower percentage of women were between 38 and 42 years (8%) or 18 - 22 years (6%), and a very small percentage were in the age group 43 - 47 years (1.1%)
Summary
In the winter of 2012 Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology undertook a cross-sectional nested study on the levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) among 2033 Bulgarians in 12 cities and the adjacent villages [1]. In Bulgaria the food is not boosted with vitamin D and the majority of the adult population in this study have moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency. This deficiency is more pronounced among females with no significant differences among different age groups. This study encompassed part of the previously investigated individuals who had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The investigation revealed that 8.5% of the studied population had vitamin D deficiency during the summer [2]. There is no data concerning the levels of vitamin D in pregnant women.
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