The Impact of Sample Type on Vitamin D Quantification and Clinical Classification during Pregnancy

Measurement of vitamin D status has significant use in clinical and research settings, including during pregnancy. We aimed to assess the agreement of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, and its three analytes (25-hydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub> (25(OH)D<sub>3</sub&g...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Soriah M. Harvey, Vanessa E. Murphy, Peter G. Gibson, Michael Clarke, Megan E. Jensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Nutrients
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3872
Description
Summary:Measurement of vitamin D status has significant use in clinical and research settings, including during pregnancy. We aimed to assess the agreement of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, and its three analytes (25-hydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub> (25(OH)D<sub>3</sub>), 25-hydroxyvitamin D<sub>2</sub> (25(OH)D<sub>2</sub>) and Epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub> (Epi-25(OH)D<sub>3</sub>)), in plasma and serum samples collected during pregnancy, and to examine the proportion of women who change vitamin D status category based on sample type. Matching samples were collected from <i>n</i> = 114 non-fasting women between 12–25 weeks gestation in a clinical trial in Newcastle, Australia. Samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify total 25(OH)D and its analytes and examined using Bland-Altman plots, Pearson correlation (r), intraclass correlation coefficient and Cohen’s Kappa test. Serum total 25(OH)D ranged from 33.8–169.8 nmol/L and plasma ranged from 28.6–211.2 nmol/L. There was a significant difference for total 25(OH)D based on sample type (measurement bias 7.63 nmol/L for serum vs plasma (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 5.36, 9.90, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). The mean difference between serum and plasma concentrations was statistically significant for 25(OH)D<sub>3</sub> (7.38 nmol/L; 95% CI 5.28, 9.48, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001) and Epi-25(OH)D<sub>3</sub> (0.39 nmol/L; 95% CI 0.14, 0.64, <i>p</i> = 0.014). Of 114 participants, 28% were classified as vitamin D deficient (<50 nmol/L) or insufficient (<75 nmol/L) based on plasma sample and 36% based on serum sample. Nineteen (16.7%) participants changed vitamin D status category based on sample type. 25-hydroxyvitamin D quantification using LC-MS/MS methodology differed significantly between serum and plasma, yielding a higher value in plasma; this influenced vitamin D status based on accepted cut-points, which may have implications in clinical and research settings.
ISSN:2072-6643