Short Communication: High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Pregnant Women

Vitamin D deficiency is common in HIV-infected populations. In resource-limited settings, vitamin D deficiency has been shown to affect HIV disease progression and mortality in pregnant women, and also increases mother-to-child HIV transmission and mortality in their infants. This study sought to investigate vitamin D status in HIV-infected women compared to healthy controls in a high-income country setting and determine variables associated with vitamin D deficiency. We prospectively enrolled 40 women/infant pairs (16 HIV-infected women/HIV-exposed infant pairs and 24 uninfected/unexposed pairs). In serum cord blood, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were suboptimal (<30 ng/ml) in 100% of subjects from both groups. White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity was the only variable associated with higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations. This high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, especially among HIV-infected women and their infants, deserves further investigation, as it may have a negative impact on maternal and infant health.