Dietary vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Minangkabau pregnant women: results from the vitamin D pregnant mothers (VDPM) cohort study in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Indonesia. While dietary vitamin D intake is a potential contributor to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, there is limited research on its role in populations with dietary habits rich in fat and spices, such as in the Minangkabau ethnic group. This study investigates the relationship between maternal dietary vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Minangkabau pregnant women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 182 pregnant women in their third trimester. Dietary vitamin D intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), and serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured by ELISA. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The mean dietary vitamin D intake was 9.2 ± 6.8 µg/day, and the mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 21.0 ± 10.1 ng/mL. Despite higher consumption of vitamin D-rich foods (fish, eggs, and dairy), most participants (88%) had inadequate intake, and 73% had deficient or insufficient vitamin D status. A weak positive correlation between dietary intake and serum 25(OH)D was observed (r = 0.09), but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: While higher consumption of vitamin D-rich foods was associated with greater dietary intake, this did not translate into significantly higher serum 25(OH)D concentration. These findings suggest that dietary intake alone had a limited impact on serum 25(OH)D concentration, with other factors likely playing a more significant role.