Low Maternal Vitamin D and Calcium Food Intake during Pregnancy Associated with Place of Residence: A Cross-Sectional Study in West Sumatran Women, Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy worldwide, and variable availability of vitamin D-rich foods may affect the adequacy of vitamin D food intake in different regions.

AIM: We analysed the relationship between place of residence and maternal food intake of vitamin D and calcium in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 203 pregnant women. Data collection was carried out in four districts in West Sumatra – two in coastal locations and two in mountainous locations – with subjects divided into groups based on their place of residence. The dietary intakes of pregnant women were assessed through a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ).

RESULTS: The means of maternal vitamin D and calcium food intake were 7.92 ± 5.26 µg/day and 784.88 ± 409.77 mg/day, respectively. There were no reports of vitamin D supplement intake during pregnancy. A total of 86.7% and 89.7% of the study subjects had low vitamin D and calcium food intake status, respectively. There was a significant association between maternal vitamin D intake and place of residence (p = 0.02) and significant different mean levels of vitamin D food intake with the place of residence (9.04 vs 6.55 µg/day; p = 0.01). Mothers who had higher education levels had adequate calcium food intake (p = 0.015; OR: 0.295; 0.116–0.751).

CONCLUSION: Low maternal vitamin D and calcium food intake were found to be common in West Sumatra, Indonesia and their differed between those residents in mountainous and in coastal areas.