Vitamin D deficiency status and its related risk factors during early pregnancy: a cross-sectional study of pregnant Minangkabau women, Indonesia

Cross-sectional study of 239 pregnant women in West Sumatra, Indonesia, in the first trimester (<13 weeks). Healthy singleton pregnancies; mean age 29.8 years (SD 5.7); parity: 25.4% nulliparous, 74.6% multiparous. Recruited from five urban/rural locations. Data collected via structured questionnaire and interview; anthropometric measurements; dietary intake assessed with a semi-quantitative FFQ; serum 25(OH)D measured by ELISA; logistic regression used to identify predictors of low vitamin D status (<20 ng/mL). 232 serum samples analyzed.

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (<20 ng/mL) was common (median 25(OH)D 13.15 ng/mL; 82.8% below 20 ng/mL; 17.2% ≥20 ng/mL). Four independent predictors of low vitamin D status were: not working (OR 0.029; 95% CI 0.001–0.708; p=0.030), nulliparous parity (OR 7.634; 95% CI 1.550–37.608; p=0.012), outdoor activity <1 hour/day (OR 9.659; 95% CI 1.883–49.550; p=0.007), and no supplement before pregnancy (OR 4.49; 95% CI 1.081–18.563; p=0.039). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in early pregnancy among Minangkabau women; recommendations include developing strategies to detect and prevent insufficiency, such as promoting preconception vitamin D supplementation and safe outdoor sun exposure, and considering vitamin D status screening for at-risk groups.

Small sample size and potential self-selection bias; cross-sectional design; ELISA-based 25(OH)D measurement (not LC-MS); limited assessment of pigmentation, sun exposure duration, physical activity, and macronutrient intake; recall bias from questionnaires; data from a single Indonesian region during the dry season; 7 participants lacked serum data.