ABSTRACT
Vitamin D deficiency is common among women during pregnancy. This study aims to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and their shared modifiable environmental factors among pregnant women in Indonesia and Malaysia. METHODS: Blood samples of 844 third-trimester pregnant women (Indonesians: 311; Malaysians: 533) were collected to determine their serum 25(OH) D levels. Information on sun exposure and sun protection behaviours were obtained through face-to-face interviews. Dietary vitamin D intake was assessed by using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) among Indonesian and Malaysian pregnant women were 42.4% and 72.0%, respectively. Percentage of exposed body surface area was inversely associated with vitamin D deficiency among Indonesian pregnant women (OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.09-0.48). Among Malaysian pregnant women, higher intakes of dietary vitamin D were associated with lower risk of vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.81). Analysis of the combined cohorts revealed a lower risk of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women who had a daily intake of at least 15 mcg vitamin D (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.38-0.88) and exposure of more than 27% body surface area to the sunlight (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.16-0.60). CONCLUSION: Despite abundant sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among pregnant women in tropical countries. The present study suggests that nutrition education on vitamin D intake and sun exposure during pregnancy is necessary for primary prevention of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women living in the tropical countries
Subject(s)
Vitamin D Deficiency , Body Surface Area , Prevalence , Pregnant Women , Prenatal Nutrition , MalaysiaABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Stunting is known to be a major public health problem among Indonesian children. We aimed to examine the association between dietary diversity and vitamin D intake with stunting in children aged 6-23 months. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. A total of 79 subjects aged 6-23 months were selected for each case and control group based on their stunting status. We assessed potential explanatory variables at the child, parental, household, and community levels. Results: Factors which were significantly associated with stunting included young children aged 1823 months (adjusted OR = 3.84; 95% CI: 1.17-12.26), birth length ≥48 cm (adjusted OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16-0.83), inadequate intake of vitamin D (adjusted OR = 5.18; 95% CI: 1.03-26.02), and diversified diet (adjusted OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.03-0.92). Other variables such as household economic status, living residency, history of exclusive breastfeeding, and infectious diseases, as well as intakes of energy and protein were not significantly related to stunting. Conclusion: Minimum dietary diversity, vitamin D intake from complementary foods, and birth length were associated with stunting status among children. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on stunting prevention programmes in the first two years of life, or even since the preconception period.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: The association between vitamin D inadequacy and blood pressure (BP) has been studied in several populations. We examined the association of maternal vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D levels and BP among pregnant women in West Sumatra. Methods: This study was conducted using a comparative cross-sectional study in a maternal clinic selected by convenience in Padang. Pregnant mothers who attended the clinic in July-August 2015 were recruited. Inclusion criteria were pregnancy between 28-42 weeks, aged 20-35 years, and with less than three parity status. A total of 56 women were recruited and divided equally into either normotension or hypertension groups. Subjects with blood pressure less than 120 mmHg (SBP) and 80 mmHg (DBP) were placed in the normotension group, while subjects with ≥140 mmHg (SBP) and/or ≥90 mmHg) were in the hypertension group. Subjects completed a pre-tested semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Three ml of non-fasting blood was drawn from each subject for determination of 25(OH)D, urea, creatinine, leukocyte, and blood glucose levels. Results: There was a significant difference in mean serum 25(OH)D, between the normotension and hypertension groups, at 36.85±21.58 pg/ml and 17.36±7.91 pg/ml, respectively. Only 20% of participants from the hypertension group had adequate vitamin D intake. Blood pressure status had a significant association with vitamin D intake status (p=0.001). Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D intake and 25(OH)D levels were associated with blood pressure status in this sample population. Further studies with a larger sample population are suggested to verify the findings of this study.