Frontiers in Nutrition (Mar 2021)

Vitamin A, D, and E Levels and Reference Ranges for Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study 2017–2019

  • Fan Gao,
  • Fanfan Guo,
  • Yidan Zhang,
  • Yufei Yuan,
  • Dunjin Chen,
  • Guiqin Bai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.628902
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Background: Pregnancy-specific vitamin reference ranges are currently not available for maternal vitamin management during pregnancy. This study aimed to propose pregnancy-specific vitamin reference ranges and to investigate the factors influencing vitamin levels during pregnancy.Methods: A cross-sectional study that included pregnant women from 17 cities in 4 provinces in western China was conducted from 2017 to 2019. A total of 119,286 subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E levels were measured. A multivariable linear regression model and restricted cubic spline function were used to analyze the factors related to vitamin levels.Results: The reference ranges for vitamin A, D, and E levels were 0.22–0.62 mg/L, 5–43 ng/mL, and 7.4–23.5 mg/L, respectively. A linear relationship was found between vitamin E level and age (β = 0.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0037–0.0042; p < 0.001), and a nonlinear relationship was found between vitamin D (p nonlinear = 0.033) and vitamin A levels and age (p nonlinear < 0.001). Season, gestational trimester, and regions were related to the levels of the three vitamins in the multivariable models (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The lower limit of vitamin A during pregnancy was the same as the reference value currently used for the general population. The reference ranges of vitamins D and E during pregnancy were lower and higher, respectively, than the currently used criteria for the general population. Vitamin A, D, and E levels differed according to age, season, gestational trimester, and region.

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