Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency has adverse consequences for both mother and neonate. Most of these conditions are reversible and preventable. Despite taking 600 IU vitamin D per day (recommended dose) during pregnancy, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy women still remains high. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an Iranian pregnant population and to analyze the impact of implementing a screening and treatment protocol among them. This study conducted at a prenatal care clinic in Tehran, Iran. The screening for vitamin D deficiency was typically performed at two points: one at the initial prenatal visit and another at approximately 28 weeks’ gestation. If Vitamin D status was insufficient an additional vitamin D3 supplement of 50,000 IU of ergocalciferol was prescribed weekly for 10 weeks. The results of this study confirmed that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are quite prevalent in the study population, insufficient (79.6%) or deficient (59.7%), and required an increase in their vitamin D level to achieve sufficiency. Supplementation with less than 50,000 IU per week is insufficient to ensure a vitamin D level above 20 ng/ml in all vitamin D deficient pregnant women. Even larger doses are required to achieve sufficient vitamin D levels (above 30 ng/ml). In conclusion, implementing a screening and supplementing protocol during pregnancy resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of women who were able to achieve a status of vitamin D sufficiency.