TITLE:
Vitamin D Insufficiency among Women Post-Partum in Northern Sweden—A Public Health Concern
AUTHORS:
Pamela Hasslöf, Frida Karlsson Videhult, Sven Arne Silfverdal, Christina E. West, Christina Stecksén-Blicks
KEYWORDS:
Vitamin D Insufficiency, Fungal Infection, Postpartum, Public Health, Season
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
19,
2017
ABSTRACT: Pregnancy and post-partum represent a period of susceptibility for vitamin D insufficiency. This study investigated S-25 [OH] D levels in women in northern Sweden 4 weeks post-partum and its association with selected background factors. Blood from 100 healthy women were analyzed for iron status and serum levels of S-25[OH] D using ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS). <50 nmol/L was categorized as insufficiency and <25 nmol/L as deficiency. Maternal BMI, dietary habits, fungal infections during pregnancy, and infant birth characteristics were collected using questionnaires and medical charts. 58% were vitamin D insufficient whereas 10% had deficiency. Insufficiency was most common during winter (OR = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.1-6.96) and women with deficiency reported lower milk consumption; 11.3 ± 22.8 intakes per months vs. 34.0 ± 28.9 for those above 25 nmol/L (p °49'N. The odds of being insufficient were increased during winter whereas milk consumption was negatively associated with deficiency. The low vitamin D-levels particularly during winter is a public health concern. From a public health perspective it has to be considered whether dietary advices alone should be modified or if supplementation with vitamin D during pregnancy and the post-partum period also is needed.