Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women of ethnic minority: a potential contributor to preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: We investigated risk for comorbidities and preeclampsia at low vitamin D levels in ethnic minorities. STUDY DESIGN: Umbilical cord vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was determined in urban minorities: 80.9% African American and 17% Hispanic mothers-baby pairs. To identify the correlation between vitamin D levels and high-risk comorbidities which result in preeclampsia, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULT: Below the Institute of Medicine threshold of 25(OH)D for pregnant women (25 ng ml(-1)), obesity (P=0.055) and pregestational diabetes (odds ratio (OR) = 2.056) were observed. The study median was 16 ng ml(-1) ( < 25th percentile), at which gestational hypertension (P=0.042), chronic hypertension (OR= 4.842) and pregestational diabetes (OR= 3.45) became relevant. The risk for preeclampsia increased 12-fold with gestational hypertension (P=0.003) and 14-fold with combined chronic and gestational hypertension (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women of ethnic minority had lower median vitamin D levels which may contribute to a potential risk for preeclampsia.