Vitamin D deficiency and associated factors among pregnant women of a sunny city in Northeast of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the serum vitamin D concentrations and identified the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in Brazilian pregnant women, in a city with a high solar exposure.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 190 pregnant women in a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Socio-environmental information, regarding the lifestyle and biological factors of participants, was collected and recorded in a questionnaire, and serum concentrations of 25(OH)D was determined (PR).

RESULTS: The deficient and insufficient vitamin D concentrations were found in 14.21% and 44.74% of the pregnant women, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with commuting to work via motor vehicles (PR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.06-7.31), with winter (prevalence ratio - PR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.01-2.35), exposure to the sun only on the face and hands (PR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.35-6.63) and single pregnant women (PR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.01-6.35).

CONCLUSIONS: We detected a high proportion of pregnant women with vitamin deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels among pregnant women of a sunny city. These data suggest the necessity to monitor serum vitamin D levels during pregnancy and the adequate orientation in prenatal care to adoption healthy lifestyle for the prevention of vitamin D deficiency in this population.