Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and environmental determinants of vitamin D levels in pregnant women in Spain

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL circulating levels) is a worldwide public health concern and pregnant women are especially vulnerable, affecting the health of the mother and the fetus. This study aims to evaluate the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and environmental determinants associated with circulating vitamin D levels in Spanish pregnant women.

Methods: We used data from the Spanish INMA ("Infancia y Medio Ambiente") prospective birth cohort study from the regions of Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, and Valencia. 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) was measured in plasma collected in the first trimester of pregnancy. Information on 108 determinants was gathered: 13 sociodemographic, 48 lifestyle including diet, smoking and physical activity, and 47 environmental variables, representing the urban and the chemical exposome. Association of the determinants with maternal 25(OH)D₃ levels was estimated in single- and multiple-exposure models. Machine learning techniques were used to predict 25(OH)D₃ levels below sufficiency (30 ng/mL).

Results: The prevalence of < 30 ng/mL 25(OH)D₃ levels was 51 %. In the single-exposure analysis, older age, higher socioeconomic status, taking vitamin D, B12 and other sup*plementation, and higher humidity, atmospheric pressure and UV rays were associated with higher levels of 25(OH)D₃ (IQR increase of age: 1.2 [95 % CI: 0.6, 1.8] ng/mL 25(OH)D₃). In the multiple-exposures model, most of these associations remained and others were revealed. Higher body mass index, PM_2.5 and high deprivation area were associated with lower 25(OH)D₃ levels (i.e., Quartile 4 of PM_2.5 vs Q1: -3.6 [95 % CI: -5.6, -1.5] ng/mL of 25(OH)D₃). History of allergy and asthma, being multiparous, intake of vegetable fat, vitamin B6, alcohol consumption and molybdenum were associated with higher levels. The machine learning classification model confirmed some of these associations.

Conclusions: This comprehensive study shows that younger age, higher body mass index, higher deprived areas, higher air pollution and lower UV rays and humidity are associated with lower 25(OH)D₃ levels.

Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Determinants; Exposome; Machine learning; Pregnancy; Vitamin D3.