Impact of a Vitamin D Protocol in Pregnancy at an Urban Women’s Health Clinic

Background: Adequate vitamin D levels are important during pregnancy for maternal and fetal health. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and appropriate treatment during pregnancy are not well documented. Objectives: This study aims to identify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and analyze the impact of a vitamin D protocol on achieving sufficient vitamin D levels. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted among 200 women who received prenatal care between April 1, 2011, and December 1, 2012 (preprotocol) and July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014 (postprotocol). In each sample period, 100 women were included. Women were included if they had 2 vitamin D levels drawn during pregnancy. Maternal age, ethnicity, vitamin D levels, gestational age at each level, and the status of vitamin D supplement were controlled for. Results: Women in the preprotocol group achieving sufficiency (25[OH]D ≥ 30 ng/mL) increased from 43% to 60%. In the postprotocol group, sufficiency increased from 19% to 69%. Adherence to the protocol dose was highest in women who were initially deficient (25[OH]D ≤ 20 ng/mL), and correlation between adherence to the protocol dose and achievement of sufficiency was also highest in the group of women who were initially deficient. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent (25% total) in this population. Implementation of a clinic-wide protocol for vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy resulted in a nonsignificant increase in the percentage of women achieving vitamin D sufficiency.