Determination of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Level in Lactating Women and Factors affecting it in Islam Abad Gharb (2004)

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is still a common serious health problem among women of reproductive age and their infants in developing countries at the outset of the third millennium. Information on vitamin D status of urban lactating women in Islam Abad Gharb is not available, but it seems that, as in other physiologic groups in other areas of Iran, vitamin D deficiency may be common there, too. The aims of this study were: 1) To determine the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and its association with independent variables (age, occupation, family size), and 2) To determine the vitamin D status of urban lactating women and its association with the independent variables.   

Materials & Method: In this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, using a simple randomized sampling technique, a total of 155 lactating women, whose babies were less than 12 months, were selected from 8 urban health centers in Islam Abad Gharb in winter 2004. A general questionnaire was completed to obtain information on age, occupation, family size, and   fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis .The concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum was measured by Chemiluminescence Method. Normal status, moderate deficiency, and sever deficiency were defined as a concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum ≥ 10 ng/ml, 6ng/ml ≤ concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum < 10 ng/ml, and vitamin D deficiency as concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D< 6 ng/ml.

Results: The results revealed that the mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 5.36 ng/ml.  8.4% of women had a normal status, 18.7% and 72.9% suffered from moderate and severe deficiency. Age and family size affected the serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D negatively.  Also working women had a significantly better vitamin D status than housewives.

Conclusion: We conclude that vitamin D status of urban lactating women is poor and needs immediate attention.