Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy in a Multi-Ethnic Population-Representative Swedish Cohort
Overview
Authors
Affiliations
There is currently little information on changes in vitamin D status during pregnancy and its predictors. The aim was to study the determinants of change in vitamin D status during pregnancy and of vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) in early pregnancy. Blood was drawn in the first (T1) and third trimester (T3). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ( = 1985) was analysed by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Season-corrected 25(OH)D was calculated by fitting cosine functions to the data. Mean (standard deviation) 25(OH)D was 64.5(24.5) nmol/L at T1 and 74.6(34.4) at T3. Mean age was 31.3(4.9) years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.5(4.2) kg/m² and 74% of the women were born in Sweden. Vitamin D deficiency was common among women born in Africa (51%) and Asia (46%) and prevalent in 10% of the whole cohort. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency at T1 were of non-North European origin, and had less sun exposure, lower vitamin D intake and lower age. Season-corrected 25(OH)D increased by 11(23) nmol/L from T1 to T3. The determinants of season-corrected change in 25(OH)D were origin, sun-seeking behaviour, clothing style, dietary vitamin D intake, vitamin D supplementation and recent travel <35° N. In conclusion, season-corrected 25(OH)D concentration increased during pregnancy and depended partly on lifestyle factors. The overall prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was low but common among women born in Africa and Asia. Among them, the determinants of both vitamin D deficiency and change in season-corrected vitamin D status were fewer, indicating a smaller effect of sun exposure.
Forsby M, Winkvist A, Mooney C, Dangardt F, Kindblom J, Barebring L Eur J Nutr. 2025; 64(2):69.
PMID: 40000492 PMC: 11861403. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-025-03584-2.
Fondjo L, Mensah J, Awuah E, Sakyi S PLoS One. 2024; 19(5):e0303778.
PMID: 38814968 PMC: 11139312. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303778.
The association between maternal vitamin D deficiency and postpartum hemorrhage and uterine atony.
Sorsjo Stevenazzi A, Pihl S, Blomberg M, Axelsson D Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2023; 103(2):286-293.
PMID: 37960966 PMC: 10823403. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14719.
Supplement use in relation to dietary intake in pregnancy: an analysis of the Swedish GraviD cohort.
Forsby M, Winkvist A, Barebring L, Augustin H Br J Nutr. 2023; 131(2):256-264.
PMID: 37565530 PMC: 10751946. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114523001794.
Amberntsson A, Barebring L, Winkvist A, Lissner L, Meltzer H, Brantsaeter A Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1201171.
PMID: 37565036 PMC: 10410266. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1201171.