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

• Published in: Frontiers in nutrition (Lausanne) Vol. 8; p. 628902
• Main Authors: Gao, Fan, Guo, Fanfan, Zhang, Yidan, Yuan, Yufei, Chen, Dunjin, Bai, Guiqin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 22.03.2021
• Subjects: Nutrition; pregnancy; reference range; vitamin A; vitamin D; vitamin E; reference range; vitamin A; vitamin D; pregnancy; vitamin E
• ISSN: 2296-861X; 2296-861X
• DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.628902

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. 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. 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; < 0.001), and a nonlinear relationship was found between vitamin D ( nonlinear = 0.033) and vitamin A levels and age ( nonlinear < 0.001). Season, gestational trimester, and regions were related to the levels of the three vitamins in the multivariable models ( < 0.05). 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.