High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women
Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a public health problem worldwide due to its important role in health and disease. The present work is intended to examine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant Saudi women and related risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out at King Fahad...
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doaj-6ea7ccda869749398f45b052e86809492020-11-25T00:06:34ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432016-02-01827710.3390/nu8020077nu8020077High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi WomenNora A. Al-Faris0Nutrition and Food Science Department, College of Home Economics, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 27938, Riyadh 11427, Saudi ArabiaVitamin D deficiency has emerged as a public health problem worldwide due to its important role in health and disease. The present work is intended to examine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant Saudi women and related risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 160 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and maternal characteristics were collected and vitamin D intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. Weight and height were measured using standardized methods. Vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) and insufficiency (25(OH)D = 50–74 nmol/L) were reported in 50% and 43.8% of the study sample, respectively. Median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 49.9 nmol/L. Adequate vitamin D intake (≥600 IU/day) was reported among only 8.1% of pregnant women. Age group, educational level, sun exposure frequency and daytime and daily practice of exercise were significantly associated with vitamin D status. Overall, vitamin D deficiency was common among pregnant Saudi women in Riyadh. Steps should be taken to address the current situation, including increased sunlight exposure, consumption of fatty fish, and vitamin D supplements.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/2/77vitamin DdeficiencypregnancywomenSaudi Arabia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nora A. Al-Faris |
spellingShingle |
Nora A. Al-Faris High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women Nutrients vitamin D deficiency pregnancy women Saudi Arabia |
author_facet |
Nora A. Al-Faris |
author_sort |
Nora A. Al-Faris |
title |
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women |
title_short |
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women |
title_full |
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women |
title_fullStr |
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women |
title_full_unstemmed |
High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Pregnant Saudi Women |
title_sort |
high prevalence of vitamin d deficiency among pregnant saudi women |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Nutrients |
issn |
2072-6643 |
publishDate |
2016-02-01 |
description |
Vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a public health problem worldwide due to its important role in health and disease. The present work is intended to examine prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant Saudi women and related risk factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 160 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and maternal characteristics were collected and vitamin D intake was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. Weight and height were measured using standardized methods. Vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) and insufficiency (25(OH)D = 50–74 nmol/L) were reported in 50% and 43.8% of the study sample, respectively. Median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 49.9 nmol/L. Adequate vitamin D intake (≥600 IU/day) was reported among only 8.1% of pregnant women. Age group, educational level, sun exposure frequency and daytime and daily practice of exercise were significantly associated with vitamin D status. Overall, vitamin D deficiency was common among pregnant Saudi women in Riyadh. Steps should be taken to address the current situation, including increased sunlight exposure, consumption of fatty fish, and vitamin D supplements. |
topic |
vitamin D deficiency pregnancy women Saudi Arabia |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/2/77 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT noraaalfaris highprevalenceofvitaminddeficiencyamongpregnantsaudiwomen |
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