Low vitamin D while pregnant – a health emergency (Indonesia in this case) – meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Indonesian pregnant women: a public health emergency

AJOG Global Reports Volume 3, Issue 2, May 2023, 100189 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100189

Gilbert Sterling Octavius MD, MHM, MM 1, Vamela Adman Daleni MD 2, Glenda Angeline MD 2, Cindy Virliani MD 2

Only 12% had > 30 ng (75 nmol)

OBJECTIVE

There are few in-depth investigations or meta-analyses determining the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in expectant Indonesian mothers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine this prevalence.

DATA SOURCES

We searched information using the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Neliti, Indonesia Onesearch, Indonesian Scientific Journal Database, bioRxiv, and medRxiv.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The inclusion criteria included cross-sectional studies or observational studies published in any language, studying Indonesian pregnant women whose vitamin D levels were measured.

METHODS

Vitamin D deficiency in this review was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D <50 nmol/L, whereas vitamin D insufficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D between 50 and 75 nmol/L. The analysis was done using Stata software with the Metaprop command.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 6 studies involving 830 pregnant women aged 27.6–30.6 years. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Indonesian pregnant women was 63% (95% confidence interval, 40–86; I2, 98.9%; P<.0001). The prevalence rates of vitamin D insufficiency and hypovitaminosis D were 25% (95% confidence interval, 16–34; I2, 83.37%; P<.01) and 78% (95% confidence interval, 60–96; I2, 96.81%; P<.01), respectively. The mean serum vitamin D level was 40.59 nmol/L (95% confidence interval, 26.04–55.13; I2, 99.57%; P<.01).

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women in Indonesia are at risk for vitamin D deficiency, which constitutes a public health issue. Possible unwanted consequences, including preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age newborns, are more likely to occur when vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women is left untreated. However, more studies are needed to prove these relationships.

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