Abstract
Background: During pregnancy, vitamin D requirements are higher due to fetal growth and development. Vitamin D production occurs mainly through sunlight exposure, which is affected by geographic location and lifestyle factors. Methods: This was a case-control study nested within two cohorts of adult pregnant women (n = 298): urban (Mexico City) and rural (Cuetzalan). To reduce confounding, pairs were selected by age, pregestational body mass index, and pregnancy trimester. Generalized linear models were used to assess the two groups according to their vitamin D status. Results: A total of 298 adult women were studied: 149 from a rural area and 149 from an urban area. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were observed in 28% and 38.2% of women, respectively. A trend for higher 25(OH)D concentrations was observed in women from the rural area (27.5 ng/mL vs. 25.8 ng/mL), probably related to the type of job, where women with partial jobs showing less probability of having vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.26; CI = 0.06–1.16; p = 0.08) and vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 0.24; CI = 0.06–0.99; p = 0.05). Women whose Last Menstrual Period occurred in spring showed lower vitamin D concentration compared to those whose LMP occurred in winter (p < 0.01). Conclusions: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in both rural and urban areas. Women living in rural areas tended to have higher 25(OH)D concentrations, probably related to more sunlight exposure associated with their type of job.
Highlights
Vitamin D is a liposoluble vitamin and hormone that is synthesized in the skin, and it is normally related to bone health [1]
Women from the rural area were younger and had a lesser level of education compared to the urban counterpart, and a higher proportion had a partial job (p < 0.01)
Significant differences were found in the reported season of last menstrual period (LMP), where very few women in the rural group had their LMP in spring (p < 0.01)
Summary
Vitamin D is a liposoluble vitamin and hormone that is synthesized in the skin, and it is normally related to bone health [1]. Exposure to Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (wavelengths from 290 nm to 315 nm) stimulate the conversion process Factors such as the geographic location (latitude), the season, time of the day, pollution, and even cloudiness influence vitamin D production [2,3]. A trend for higher 25(OH)D concentrations was observed in women from the rural area (27.5 ng/mL vs 25.8 ng/mL), probably related to the type of job, where women with partial jobs showing less probability of having vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.26; CI = 0.06–1.16; p = 0.08) and vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 0.24; CI = 0.06–0.99; p = 0.05). Women living in rural areas tended to have higher 25(OH)D concentrations, probably related to more sunlight exposure associated with their type of job
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