Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D has an increasingly recognised repertoire of non-classical actions, such as promoting insulin action and secretion, immune modulation and lung development. It therefore has the potential to influence many factors in the developing fetus. Several studies reported the relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labour, low birth weight and increased rate of caesarean section. The present study was undertaken to study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women of Shimla, India.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, India over a period of 12 months. Six hundred women were included in the study.Results: Out of 600 subjects, 568 (94.67%) subjects had vitamin D deficiency and only 32 (5.33%) subjects had sufficient vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency was more common in the vegetarians, dark skinned subjects and in those who were taking vitamin D supplements.Conclusions: It is concluded from this study that there is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women of Shimla, India.

A study on prevalence of vitamin D Deficiency among pregnant women attending a tertiary health centre in Rajasthan, India

“…23 In a study by Chandel et al, it is reported that majority of vitamin D deficient subjects were <30 years of age. 22 In contrast to this, our study indicated that age groups older than 30 years had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. In our study, 78% of women over 30 and 58% of women under 30 were impacted by the condition.…”

“…This high incidence in this study might be a result of urban dwellers spending more time indoors and participating in less outside activities due to air pollution, which also reduces exposure to sunshine. 21 For women of childbearing age, two to three sessions of roughly 10-15 minutes of sun exposure each week are strongly advised to absorb an adequate quantity of vitamin D. 22 Even 11.1 hours of total body exposure to sunlight per week, according to a recent study among Hawaiians, was insufficient to halt the development of "low vitamin D status." 23 In a study by Chandel et al, it is reported that majority of vitamin D deficient subjects were <30 years of age.…”