DIET AND VITAMIN-D STATUS AMONG PREGNANT PAKISTANI WOMEN IN OSLO

Objectives: In the present study the diet and the nutritional status o f pregnant Pakistani immigrant women have been compared with a group o f Norwegian women. Design: A cross-sectional survey of women in the 18 th week of pregnancy. Setting: Women referred to routine ultrasound ex amination at Aker and Ulleval Hospitals in Norway. Subjects: All (58) healthy women of Pakistani origin referred from October of 1991 to Jan uary of 1992 were included, of whom 38 (66%) participated. Forty-five Norwegian women were randomly included in the same period and 38 (84%) of these women participated. Results: The serum levels of 25-hydroxyv itamin D-3 were significantly lower in the Pakistanis compared with th e Norwegians (median 19 nmol/l vs 55 nmol/l, P < 0.001) and 83% of the Pakistani women had 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 levels below the reference value (<30 nmol/l). The Pakistanis had higher levels of serum parathyr oid hormone (median 2.6 vs 1.6 pmol/l, P < 0.001). The Pakistanis also had a lower dietary intake of vitamin D than that of the Norwegians ( median 2.2 vs 3.3 mu g/day, P < 0.05), and a lower total intake, inclu ding supplements (median 2.9 vs 7.0 mu g/day, P < 0.001). Among the Pa kistanis a correlation was found between the dietary intake of margari ne, the main source of vitamin D in the diet, and the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 in serum, r = 0.48 (P = 0.01). In general, the Pakistanis avoided any direct sunshine exposure, and no relation betwe en outdoor activity and serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 was found . The Pakistani women had a lower intake of calcium than the Norwegian s (median 793 vs 1134 mg/day, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study has s hown that Pakistani women living in Oslo are at great risk of developi ng vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. The main reasons for this ar e avoidance of sun exposure, a low dietary intake of vitamin D, and no or little use of supplementation.