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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Prenatal vitamin use and vitamin D status during pregnancy, differences by race and overweight status
H H Burris1, A Thomas2, C A Zera3
11] Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA [2] Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA [3] Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective:
We aimed to study whether prenatal vitamin (PNV) use protects against low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in all women and particularly in obese and black women who are both at risk of vitamin D deficiency and poor pregnancy outcomes.
Study Design:
We studied 1019 women enrolled in a prospective study at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, from 2007 to 2009. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze associations of PNV use and odds of vitamin D deficiency defined as 25[OH]D levels <50 nmol l(-1).
Result:
In all, 56% of black and 86% of white women reported pre- and/or postconceptional PNV use. In the first trimester, 75% of black and 19% of white women were vitamin D deficient. Lack of PNV use among black women was not associated with vitamin D deficiency (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4, 2.3) but was among white women (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.1, 5.8) (interaction P<0.01).
Conclusions:
Ongoing trials of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy should consider potential effect modification by race/ethnicity.
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