The association between lifestyle and maternal vitamin D during pregnancy in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Background and objectives: An adequate level of maternal vitamin D is essential for maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. We examined the relationship between lifestyle, maternal vitamin D intake and the vitamin D status of pregnant women. Methods and Study designs: The sample of the cross-sectional study was 203 third trimester pregnant women in September-November 2016 in four different districts of West Sumatra, Indonesia. Questionnaire was used to assess lifestyles, dietary intake, anthropometry, maternal characteristics, demography and socioeconomic data. The Vitamin D serum level was measured by the ELISA method and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, Pearson's correlation and logistic regression.

Results: 160 blood serum samples of pregnant women were collected. The means of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and maternal vitamin D intake were 29.06±11.39 ng/mL and 7.92±5.26 μg/day respectively. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency- insufficiency was 61.25%, and more than 85% of the women had inadequate vitamin D intake. We found that living in mountainous areas (p=0.03) and low physical activity (p=0.02) were significantly associated with maternal vitamin D levels as a prediction factor. In addition, younger who had lower pre-pregnancy weight had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusions: Low levels of vitamin D were common among pregnant women in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Additional intake of vitamin D from supplements may be important to meet the recommended dietary level for pregnant women.